Senator labels bribery allegations ‘filth’

FIANNA FÁIL Senator Don Lydon yesterday denounced, as “filth” allegations linking him to bribery in Dublin County Council.

“It’s done me more damage; it’s appalling what’s happened to me,” he complained to the Mahon Planning Tribunal yesterday.

“How would you feel about this, how would you feel if your wife was at home listening to you on the One o’clock News — and you heard your husband is the leader of corruption in Dublin County Council?”

Mr Lydon said the Irish Examiner headline in the following day’s newspaper linked him to a £100,000 bribe.

“There was no bribe, there was no linkage; it was just filth,” he declared.

Last month, PR consultant Bill O’Herlihy named Mr Lydon as the politician who was given £100,000 by Monarch Properties to distribute to county councillors in return for their votes of support on the company’s south Dublin Cherrywood housing development.

He said he had asked Richard Lynn, the Cherrywood project coordinator, who the lead councillor was and Mr Lynn had told him it was Mr Lydon.

Mr Lydon said he felt the allegation might have damaged his ambitions of a sixth Senate term; elections are expected to be held next year.

“Of course it will affect my chances. There are always people who will believe this kind of thing; they will say there is no smoke without fire,” he said.

The tribunal is investigating a series of unexplained cash payments amounting to £160,000 made by Monarch between 1991 and 1996 in connection with its 236-acre Cherrywood project.

Mr Lynn, who now runs a property development consultancy, said Mr O’Herlihy’s allegation had had a profound effect on him, his wife, family and friends.

“My phone is silent in relation to new business,” he added.

Tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon said the impact on his personal life was unfortunately a by-product of anyone who is facing an allegation of wrongdoing.

The tribunal adjourned until next Tuesday.