Dunlop accountant quit over fears he was ‘in firing line’

THE accountant who audited Frank Dunlop’s books resigned from the lobbyist’s company amid fears he was “in the firing line” over non-disclosure of transactions to the Revenue Commissioners, the Mahon Tribunal heard yesterday.

Hugh McGowan, a chartered accountant, said he became a director of Shefran Ltd — an Irish-registered company Mr Dunlop had set up for receipt of fee income in connection with the Quarryvale development in west Dublin — when it became incorporated in 1990.

He agreed it was only after a Revenue audit of Frank Dunlop’s affairs in October 1994 that he decided to remove himself from Shefran.