Calls for resignation of Lawlor again

Calls for the resignation of Liam Lawlor grew today as he found himself behind bars for the third time in 13 months.

Liam Lawlor presented himself at Mountjoy Prison in north Dublin to begin a 28-day sentence for failing to comply with a tribunal probing planning irregularities.

The former member of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s Fianna Fail party has already served two one-week terms of a three month sentence imposed last year for failing to disclose financial records to the tribunal under Mr Justice Flood.

On both occasions the remainder of the sentence was suspended on condition that he complied, but the High Court remained unimpressed and, on Friday, ordered him back to prison. He was also fined €10,000.

The Dublin West member was thought to have been ushered into Mountjoy Prison in a police convoy, travelling in a van with blacked-out windows.

As Lawlor, 57, readjusted to prison life - in a basement cell usually reserved for sex offenders or for prisoners’ own safety - the Dail prepared to debate a motion of censure on the politician.

The motion notes a previous unanimous motion stating that the now independent deputy’s continued membership of the house would be untenable if he were to continue to defy the tribunal.

Government Chief Whip Seamus Brennan was set to meet opposition whips later today to finalise the wording of the motion.

The debate is expected to be held tomorrow or Thursday.

Today Senator Margaret Cox, a member of Lawlor’s former party, Fianna Fail, said: ‘‘His return to jail for the third time indicates that Mr Lawlor is not co-operating with the tribunal and therefore, in my opinion, his position is untenable.

‘‘The Dail (lower house) agreed a motion of censure a year or 18 months ago requesting Mr Lawlor co-operated with the tribunal and it would appear from the various visits that he has had to Mountjoy that he has not done so.

‘‘I am assuming that most people in the Oireachtas would feel that this is reflecting badly on the houses of the Oireachtas and on politicians in general.

‘‘I am disappointed that he has not resigned already. I did believe that he would make his own decision in the interests of the dignity and respect due to the Dail of the country.’’

She added: ‘‘I think there is a feeling of anger and bitterness throughout the entire country in relation to his behaviour.’’

But as members prepared to debate Lawlor’s future he suggested he could bring other politicians down with him.

In interviews on Monday he said: ‘‘There are certain people who are criticising who might have a lot less to say if they knew what I had discovered to the tribunal.

‘‘There are certain opposition politicians who should be under investigation by this tribunal as a result of the documentation in those files.’’

He remained defiant over calls for his resignation and said he had done all he could to comply with the Flood tribunal’s requests.

‘‘It is an incredible all-embracing requirement and these matters have been innocently forgotten,’’ he said.

He has also refused to rule out standing at the general election - expected to be held in May.