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.

But Mr Dunlop has informed the tribunal that he gave £5,000 to Mr Lawlor on January 22, 1991, as a down-payment for the late TD, who had been retained by Mr O’Callaghan to act as an advisor on Quarryvale. Mr Dunlop claimed the controversial Fianna Fáil TD had demanded half his own consultancy fee for introducing him to Mr O’Callaghan.

Reacting to such a claim, Mr O’Callaghan remarked: “It’s impossible.” However, the developer was shown bank records that supported Mr Dunlop’s evidence and highlighted how the money was lodged to a National Irish Bank account used by Mr Lawlor.

Tribunal barrister Patricia Dillon SC observed that the documentation would indicate that the witness must have known Mr Dunlop in January 1991.

Asked if he was surprised by confirmation of the payment, Mr O’Callaghan replied: “Totally. A complete surprise.”

“Frank Dunlop was retained by me at the end of February 1991,” he insisted.

Mr O’Callaghan has stated repeatedly that he only became involved in Quarryvale at that stage after he abandoned his own project to develop another shopping centre in nearby Neilstown.

Mr O’Callaghan has also been unable to offer an explanation as to why Mr Dunlop’s diary records them having a meeting in June 1990. Earlier this week, he denied a further allegation that he was seen in the company of Mr Dunlop and Bertie Ahern in Dáil Éireann in 1989.

The tribunal is investigating allegations that bribes were given to politicians in return for supporting the rezoning of Quarryvale (now known as the Liffey Valley shopping centre).

Mr Dunlop has admitted his role in planning corruption but Mr O’Callaghan insists he was unaware that the PR consultant was making illegal payments to councillors.

The tribunal is also investigating the Cork businessman over allegations by rival developer, Tom Gilmartin, that he gave £80,000 to former taoiseach Bertie Ahern for his assistance on Quarryvale. Both Mr O’Callaghan and Mr Ahern firmly reject the claim.

The developer denied yesterday he had ever acted in collusion with AIB to “muscle in” on the Quarryvale project after Mr Gilmartin ran into financial difficulties.

Mr O’Callaghan admitted that he had told AIB officials that he would only get involved in Quarryvale if Mr Gilmartin was no longer in control of the project.