Lawlor accuses tribunal of manipulating evidence

Former Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor has accused the Planning Tribunal of using documents obtained from another source to manipulate proceedings against him.

Mr Lawlor claimed that the tribunal manipulated files it received from solicitor Noel Smith to jail him in the High Court.

They relate to a dispute between former solicitor John Caldwell and Mr Lawlor in which Mr Lawlor was owed £350,000 in the Coolamber land deal, funds which he was in pursuit of.

The tribunal has indicated that Mr Lawlor managed to obtain the originals himself, leaving Mr Smith's office without any copies, and then swore an affidavit to the tribunal making no mention of the dispute with Mr Caldwell, but anticipating the £350,000 from Czech property deals.

Mr Lawlor said senior counsel Frank Clarke's assertion in the High Court that there were missing documents to this effect was a lie which he went to jail over.

Justice Alan Mahon warned Mr Lawlor against making those sort of allegations which are not true.