Dunlop bribe allegations ‘hilarious’

DUBLIN county councillor Therese Ridge has described a IR£250,000 bribe allegation against a fellow Fine Gael member as “amazing, unbelievable and even quite hilarious”.

She told the Mahon Tribunal yesterday this was her reaction when — over a cup of coffee with Deputy Olivia Mitchell in May 1993 — lobbyist Frank Dunlop alleged the late Tom Hand demanded the bribe to back the Quarryvale development.

Although Mr Dunlop spoke in a jovial manner, Ms Ridge recalled: “I nearly passed out when the sum, a quarter of a million pounds, was mentioned.