Lobbyist received £15,000 cheque nine days before crucial council vote

NINE days before Dublin county councillors voted to rezone its lands, Monarch Properties issued a £15,000 cheque to lobbyist Frank Dunlop, the Mahon planning tribunal heard yesterday.

Tribunal lawyer Patricia Dillon SC claimed Monarch was complicit by issuing a VAT-exempt cheque on November 2, 1993 in an underhand way so Mr Dunlop could pay councillors.

Effectively, the property development company was giving Mr Dunlop cash, she suggested to former Monarch finance director Dominic Glennane.