Architect denies recommending lobbyist for land rezoning

AN architect, who worked on a north county Dublin housing development, denied at the Mahon Planning Tribunal yesterday he recommended the hiring of lobbyist Frank Dunlop, who has alleged he bribed councillors to get lands rezoned.

Tim Rowe, founder of Pilgrim Architects with marketing executive Tim Collins, worked on the Kinsealy project to build 19 luxury houses. Each site was to be in excess of two acres.

“I never recommended Frank Dunlop to any client or vice versa,” he told the tribunal. Mr Rowe said the proposal was for one-off housing.

Mr Dunlop alleged he bribed former Fianna Fáil councillor Sean Gilbride, whom he paid £1,000 in 1993 in a failed attempt to rezone the land at Kinsealy, controlled by Walls Property. He also alleged

Mr Gilbride signed a council motion on an agreement between them that he would be paid £1,000.

And Mr Dunlop also claims Paul Walls, a director of Walls Property, hired him in the full knowledge money would have to be paid to councillors for their support.

Mr Walls denies the allegation, while Mr Gilbride said any payments he got from Mr Dunlop were political contributions.

The tribunal is investigating attempts to rezone three parcels of land for housing: 54 acres at Kinsealy owned by Walls’ subsidiary Glenellen Homes; 4.5 acres at Seatown, north of Malahide, owned by Paul Walls; and 12 acres of adjoining land owned by Walls Hydraulic. Mr Gilbride signed all three motions but withdrew them at a meeting in May 1993 after the county manager expressed opposition.

Planners described Seatown as a most important area of scientific interest in county Dublin and an important home for migratory birds, while the Kinsealy land was in a rural area where the council was trying to restrict one-off housing.

Mr Dunlop admitted he did not include the Walls’ land on an initial list of corrupt rezoning claims provided to the tribunal in 2000.

He agreed with Mr Walls that his fee was £2,500 plus VAT. He was also to get a success fee of £6,000.

Mr Rowe said he understood it was Mr Collins, his business colleague, who introduced Mr Dunlop to assist in the public relations associated with the Walls’ lands at Kinsealy.

Mr Dunlop is expected to give evidence when the tribunal resumes today.