O’Callaghan denies role in moving Lee tunnel

CORK developer Owen O’Callaghan has denied he ever had any role in having the route of the tunnel under the River Lee moved to facilitate the development of a shopping centre in Mahon.

The millionaire businessman told the Mahon Tribunal yesterday he only acquired an interest in land near the southern end of the tunnel — which is now the location of the Mahon Point shopping centre — long after the route of the tunnel had been finalised.

Another developer, Tom Gilmartin, had previously told the planning inquiry Mr O’Callaghan had personally informed him that he had got the original line of the Jack Lynch tunnel altered so that it would emerge on lands he owned in Mahon.