Lobbyist alleges O’Callaghan funded Fianna Fáil councillor

PROPERTY developer Owen O’Callaghan funded Fianna Fáil councillor Sean Gilbride when he took leave of absence from a teaching job to work full-time on the businessman’s Quarryvale project in west Dublin, it was alleged at the Mahon Tribunal yesterday.

But lobbyist Frank Dunlop, who was employed to co-ordinate the Quarryvale project, claims he discovered the developer’s private arrangement “by accident” when Mr Gilbride rang him in late September 1992 requesting payment.

Mr Dunlop admitted in evidence yesterday it would have caused controversy if it had been revealed Mr Gilbride had received monthly payments from the developer when he voted on the Quarryvale development in 1993.