Developer says O’Herlihy bribe claims ‘total rubbish’

FORMER Monarch Properties executive Richard Lynn told the Mahon Tribunal yesterday allegations by Bill O’Herlihy and Frank Dunlop that the company bribed councillors were untrue.

Rejecting evidence by both public relations consultant O’Herlihy and former lobbyist Frank Dunlop, Mr Lynn insisted the alleged conversations never took place.

He never offered bribes or cash to councillors, council officials or Oireachtas members, he declared.

At the tribunal last month Mr O’Herlihy claimed Mr Lynn told him it was not possible to get a planning application or a material contravention through Dublin County Council unless it was bought — and that it was worth £50,000 a year “in the back pockets” of councillors.

Mr O’Herlihy alleged Mr Lynn also told him the way the system operated was one picked a lead councillor in each of the parties and the matter was discussed with them and an estimation of the amount of money needed or required to buy the votes, and that the money was then provided to the lead councillor who did everything after that.

According to Mr O’Herlihy’s testimony, Monarch paid out a sum of £100,000 in relation to the 236-acre Cherrywood housing development in south Dublin.

The tribunal is investigating unexplained cash payments amounting to £160,000 made by Monarch between 1991 and 1996, listed in company accounts to “general promotion” of Cherrywood.

Monarch made payments totalling over £500,000 relating to the Cherrywood zoning process; a substantial amount of the money was paid out in political donations the company described as expense costs.

Mr Lynn said Mr O’Herlihy — who claimed the alleged conversation took place in the Royal Dublin Hotel — was “absolutely incorrect” and he described his statement as “total rubbish”.

Mr Lynn said he had a good working relationship with Mr O’Herlihy. From November/December 1991 until Monarch retained Mr Dunlop he worked very closely with Mr O’Herlihy and they met two to three times a week.

Monarch decided to appoint Mr Dunlop after the company failed to achieve rezoning of Cherrywood in May 1992.

Mr Lynn agreed with Paul O’Higgins SC, for Mr O’Herlihy, he had no axe to grind with Mr O’Herlihy. Mr Lynn said, if he himself had been asked, he would have recommended Mr O’Herlihy be retained.

Answering tribunal lawyer Patricia Dillon SC, Mr Lynn said he was conscious of the effort Mr O’Herlihy had put in. “He appeared to me to have a personal commitment to the development of Cherrywood.”

He said the introduction of Mr Dunlop came as a surprise to him. He felt Mr Dunlop — with whom he had limited contact — was not doing any work.

He had complained to Monarch director Ed Sweeney that Mr Dunlop was not adding anything work-wise. The tribunal resumes Tuesday.