O’Callaghan failed to tell gardaí of bribe claims

CORK developer Owen O’Callaghan admitted yesterday he had failed to inform gardaí about his knowledge of planning corruption, despite being aware of allegations of bribery against three politicians, including the late Liam Lawlor.

The millionaire businessman was also forced to admit under questioning at the Mahon Tribunal that he had first-hand information about corruption as he was directly issued with a demand for £250,000 by a Fine Gael councillor. However, Mr O’Callaghan rejected a suggestion by tribunal lawyers that he had withheld such information from gardaí because it could have impacted negatively on his attempt to get land rezoned for a large shopping centre at Quarryvale near Lucan.

On his second day in the witness box at Dublin Castle, Mr O’Callaghan agreed he was aware of allegations of planning corruption against three politicians: Liam Lawlor; former Fianna Fáil councillor Finbarr Hanrahan; and the late Fine Gael councillor, Tom Hand.