Tribunal probes Dunlop lie over £40,000 payment

FORMER lobbyist Frank Dunlop was quizzed at the Mahon Tribunal yesterday on why he had lied in his evidence seven years ago over a payment of £40,000 to ex-Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor.

After deciding to co-operate with the planning probe in May 2000, the former government press secretary said he had agreed to the late Mr Lawlor’s demand for £40,000 at a meeting in his office in the presence of two developers, Cork-based Owen O’Callaghan and Tom Gilmartin, then based in Luton, England.

However, Mr Dunlop drew up a document listing the £40,000 as a political contribution to Mr Lawlor in connection with the 1991 local elections. Mr Dunlop said he had agreed a fee of £100,000 with Mr O’Callaghan to lobby councillors.