Developer ‘outraged’ by bribery allegation

FORMER Monarch Properties development company executive Eddie Sweeney firmly denied at the Mahon Tribunal yesterday he was aware lobbyist Frank Dunlop was going to bribe councillors.

Mr Dunlop, a former Fianna Fáil government press secretary, had alleged Mr Sweeney in early March 1993 told him “to do what you have to do” in relation to lobbying councillors about the proposed Cherrywood development in south Dublin.

Mr Dunlop said he interpreted the words to mean Mr Sweeney knew bribes were to be paid to members of Dublin County Council.

Mr Sweeney replied it was “absolutely ludicrous” when tribunal lawyer Pat Quinn SC asked if he or Monarch expected Mr Dunlop to bribe councillors. He said he was “outraged” by Mr Dunlop’s allegation.

Mr Sweeney said he did not recall using those words and had sought legal advice to redress what he regarded as a slight on his character, but was informed Mr Dunlop had spoken under legal privilege.

When Mr Dunlop first broke his silence six years ago and admitted he paid councillors to swing zoning decisions, he had claimed the late TD Liam Lawlor was present in March 1993 when Mr Sweeney made the alleged comments.

Mr Dunlop also then alleged Mr Sweeney said an awful lot of people had already been “looked after” and they — meant to be a reference to councillors — were “ungrateful bastards.”

Asked by Mr Quinn about this yesterday, Mr Sweeney flatly denied ever making the comment.

The tribunal is investigating the rezoning of Monarch’s 236 acres during the 1990s.

The company made payments totalling more than £500,000 in connection with the development — a substantial amount of which was paid out in political donations the company listed as expense costs.

Mr Sweeney said Monarch founder, the late Philip Monahan, asked him to recruit Mr Dunlop to assist in the lobbying of councillors. Mr Dunlop was to be paid a £4,000 monthly retainer and receive a £25,000 upfront payment. The lobbyist got a £50,000 success fee two months before councillors voted to allow a higher housing density on the Monarch lands.

Monarch managing director Paul Monahan, who was accused of giving evasive replies when he testified earlier this week, was said yesterday to be considering his position.

His lawyer Mark Sanfey SC told the tribunal he hoped to meet Mr Monahan next week when his client would decide whether to take up the tribunal’s offer of giving further evidence.