Mahon frustration as hospital delay holds up tribunal

THERE was a further delay at the Mahon Tribunal yesterday — day 798 of the marathon hearing — when key witness Frank Dunlop failed to attend.

Five weeks ago the tribunal’s chief “whistleblower” — who continues to be under medical care for a heart condition — was not well enough to resume his testimony.

Mr Dunlop’s absence on this occasion is apparently due to the delay in conveying the results of an MRI scan — conducted in Dublin’s Mater Private Hospital — to his consultant neurosurgeon Tim Lynch.

Obviously frustrated by the delay, tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon observed: “It seems amazing that the scan can’t be conveyed down a few corridors from one part of the Mater Hospital to another.”

Tribunal lawyer Patricia Dillon SC confirmed that the results had not been conveyed to Mr Dunlop’s consultant neurologist.

“So Mr Dunlop’s neurologist is not in a position to advise Mr Dunlop of the results of the MRI scan and, therefore, whether he is medically fit to resume giving evidence to the tribunal.”

Ms Dillon explained that Mr Dunlop’s medical report already furnished to the tribunal recommended the lobbyist not resume his evidence until his neurologist had considered the scan results.

The chairman said it was becoming a very serious problem for the tribunal because there were a number of witnesses anxious that Mr Dunlop should conclude his evidence before they were called.

He suggested Mr Dunlop’s legal team might convey “to whoever is in charge of these things in the Mater Hospital” that the tribunal was especially concerned at the delay in having the test checked out.

Judge Mahon said: “It’s a significant costs issue as well for the tribunal because, in effect, we are being forced to abandon hearings on a regular basis.”

Mr Dunlop, who is one of the key witnesses in the current Quarryvale module — the tribunal’s largest investigation, alleges he gave bribes to councillors to secure rezoning of the development which became Liffey Valley shopping centre in west Dublin.

If Mr Dunlop is medically fit he is expected to testify tomorrow.