O’Callaghan denies ‘doodle’ linked £80k to election and key council vote

PROPERTY developer Owen O’Callaghan yesterday denied that his “doodling” on accounting documents linked £80,000 he paid to lobbyist Frank Dunlop to local elections and a key Dublin County Council vote in favour of a major planning project.

The Cork businessman insisted that a suggestion by Mahon Tribunal counsel Patricia Dillon, that he had “cobbled together” an explanation for notes he made 17 years ago, was “completely incorrect”.

Mr O’Callaghan wrote comments on papers outlining balances that related to a number of transactions involving former government press secretary Mr Dunlop’s work for his plans to develop land at Quarryvale, Co Dublin, now the location of the Liffey Valley shopping complex.