Former FÁS director denies sending councillor on junket

FORMER State training boss Dr John Lynch denied at the Mahon Tribunal yesterday he had sent a Dublin county councillor out of the country “on a junket”, that kept him from voting against the controversial Quarryvale shopping development in west Dublin.

It had been alleged by lobbyist Frank Dunlop, during private discussions with the tribunal in April 2000, that Guss O’Connell had been sent on a junket to coincide with the crucial planning vote in December 1992.

Dr Lynch was FÁS director general when he said he told Mr O’Connell — then a youth training manager with FÁS — to be part of a delegation going to London to find out how the British training and employment services operated. Elected as an independent councillor for the Lucan area in June 1991, Mr O’Connell said he was strongly opposed to the Quarryvale project, being promoted by property developer Owen O’Callaghan.