Councillor ‘wanted £250,000 to support development’

A DECEASED Fine Gael councillor demanded £250,000 for his support of a major property development in Dublin in the early 1990s.

The Flood Tribunal heard the late Tom Hand looked for the large bribe from the promoters of the Quarryvale shopping centre in west Dublin. The political lobbyist, Frank Dunlop told the inquiry yesterday that Mr Hand had demanded money from him on numerous occasions to support various planning issues.

He said Mr Hand had also provided him with details of an Australian bank account in which the £250,000 could be lodged.