Dunlop bribe allegations ‘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.
“I think Deputy Mitchell and myself laughed at the start. We thought it was a joke — £250,000 was an enormous sum of money at the time. We asked ‘did you give it to him?’ and he said ‘no’ and that was that.”
Last October, John Bruton admitted to the tribunal Mr Dunlop made the allegation to him at the Red Cow in May 1993.
Previously, the former FG leader said he could not remember being told.
When the story of a FG councillor’s alleged demand broke in a newspaper seven years later, in April 2000, Mr Bruton set up an internal party probe which Ms Mitchell.
Ms Ridge said: “Originally, Mr Bruton was outraged and exceedingly perturbed and that is why Deputy Mitchell and myself were hauled in and asked what we knew about this matter. Up to a year ago, Mr Bruton was insisting he was never told.”
Asked why she didn’t take any action on foot of Mr Dunlop’s allegation, Ms Ridge said: “I am not a conduit for a scandal.”
She didn’t think it was her duty to pass on rumour or hearsay.
She was not going to take anyone’s character — and what if the terrible rumour was untrue, she asked.
Judge Gerald Keys said county council chairman Pat Rabbitte had asked each councillor to cooperate with Garda Inspector Michael Guiney, who was carrying out an inquiry into possible wrongdoing.
Asked why didn’t she tell Insp Michael Guiney to talk to Mr Dunlop, Ms Ridge said: “I never even thought on these lines, because I had told Mr Dunlop to go to the police.”
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