O’Callaghan claims undermined by evidence

CLAIMS by property developer Owen O’Callaghan that he had never met political lobbyist Frank Dunlop before February 1991 were undermined by evidence at the Mahon Tribunal yesterday.

The Cork businessman expressed shock at discovering that Mr Dunlop paid £5,000 to Liam Lawlor on his behalf a month earlier for assistance on the controversial Quarryvale development in west Dublin.

Mr O’Callaghan has repeatedly insisted he only met Mr Dunlop for the first time in February 1991 when he engaged the PR consultant to lobby members of Dublin County Council to support rezoning of Quarryvale. However, he has acknowledged that no documentary evidence exists to support such a claim.