Developer warned over evidence

PROPERTY developer Paul Monahan was warned yesterday he faces High Court proceedings arising from his evidence to the Mahon Tribunal.

Tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon issued the threat after he accused Mr Monahan, managing director of Monarch Properties group, of giving evasive answers during his examination yesterday.

It also emerged that Monarch shredded nearly half a ton of documents in September 2000 — three months after Frank Dunlop, a Monarch lobbyist, publicly claimed he paid to politicians to secure rezoning of Monarch lands.

In June 2000, the tribunal had asked the late Philip Monahan — Paul Monahan’s father — to give details of any payments his company had made, directly or indirectly, to politicians.

After hearing Paul Monahan’s evidence, Judge Mahon returned after a brief adjournment and said the tribunal was not satisfied Mr Monahan had given the full and frank information legally required of him. He then offered Mr Monahan the opportunity to give further evidence later in the week.

Judge Mahon added: “If he does not do so, the tribunal, in due course, will critically appraise his evidence and may decide to refer him to the High Court.”

Monarch lawyer Mark Sanfey SC said Mr Monahan stood over the evidence he had given that day as being truthful.

Earlier, the judge had told Mr Monahan it was “extraordinary and ridiculous” he knew so little about the business he was engaged in when he took over from his father.

Mr Monahan was appointed to head up the business in 2000, the year before his ailing father died.

Judge Mahon asked if he and his father had ever discussed any of the details with which the tribunal was concerned. Mr Monahan said they had not.

The tribunal is investigating the rezoning of 236 acres of Monarch lands at Cherrywood in south Dublin during the 1990s. Monarch made payments totalling over £500,000 in that connection; a substantial amount of the money was paid out in political donations the company listed as expense costs.