FG councillor ‘hugged developer after vote’

FINE GAEL councillor Olivia Mitchell was caught hugging a developer after Monarch Properties won a vital rezoning vote, the Mahon Planning Tribunal heard yesterday.

“Lucky you don’t have a camera,” Ms Mitchell is alleged to have told environmental activist and lawyer Michael Smith, who says he witnessed the event after a Dublin County Council meeting in May 1993.

Two years later, Mr Smith told the tribunal how he offered a reward for information on alleged planning corruption and called for a tribunal to be set up.