Lawlor awaits tribunal decision on High Court

The Planning Tribunal is due to make a decision later today on whether to refer former Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor to the High Court for failing to co-operate with its investigations.

Over the past few weeks, the tribunal has expressed growing exasperation with the level of co-operation it is receiving from Mr Lawlor in relation to his financial and business affairs.

If it decides to send the former TD to the High Court, he could face a hefty fine or another prison sentence for breaching a court order obliging him to co-operate with the inquiry.

Mr Lawlor has already served three separate prison sentences totalling six weeks for failing to co-operate with the tribunal’s investigation into alleged planning corruption in Dublin.