Lawlor 'sought €2m from property sale', tribunal hears

The Planning Tribunal is due to resume its questioning of former Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor later today.

The tribunal is currently deciding whether to take High Court action against the disgraced politician over his alleged failure to comply with the tribunal’s requests and co-operate with its investigation into planning corruption.

If the inquiry decides that Mr Lawlor is not co-operating, the High Court could imprison him for contempt.

The former Dublin west TD has already served three separate prison sentences totalling six weeks in duration for failing to deliver documents and files requested by the tribunal.

In evidence today, the tribunal heard that Mr Lawlor sought half the proceeds from a €4m property sale in Prague four years ago.

The tribunal heard that Zatecka, a Czech company in which Mr Lawlor had an interest, arranged for the sale of the property to a firm called Ballymore.

As part of the deal, the tribunal heard, Mr Lawlor was to receive a "finder's fee" of €2m.

Mr Lawlor denied that he ever received the money and said the fee in question was dependent on the Prague property advancing in its commercial value.

He said he did not demand payment of the money and had not pursued the matter with Ballymore.