Lawlor withdraws ‘post-Westmeath-seat-loss syndrome’ remarks

FORMER Fianna Fáil TD, Liam Lawlor withdrew an allegation as a result of pressure from the inquiry’s chairman that his former party colleague Mary O’Rourke was motivated by bitterness when giving evidence to the Planning Tribunal on Monday.

However, the controversial ex-politician repeated his claims outside the hearing that Ms O’Rourke was suffering from “post-Westmeath-seat-loss syndrome”.

Mr Lawlor made his initial comments in his sixth day of cross-examining the property developer, Tom Gilmartin yesterday.