Mitchell fails to explain car park documents

FINE GAEL frontbench TD Olivia Mitchell could not explain to the Mahon Tribunal yesterday how documents relating to allegations of bribery against fellow party councillor Tom Hand ended up in the Leinster House car park.

The documents, which recorded observations she and another FG councillor Therese Ridge had made on the allegations under the tribunal’s spotlight, were discovered in April 2000 by a Fianna Fáil chauffeur.

The discovery was made four days after a newspaper article said the tribunal was probing allegations that Mr Hand had demanded £250,000 for his support for the Quarryvale project in west Dublin on which the Liffey Valley shopping centre now stands.