Judge walks out of Tribunal hearing

The Chairman of the Planning Tribunal, Justice Alan Mahon, walked out of the Tribunal today.

The judge chairing the tribunal into alleged planning irregularities walked out of the hearing today after clashing with Liam Lawlor.

Judge Alan Mahon left the proceedings when ex-politician Liam Lawlor – who has twice been jailed for contempt of court during the tribunal’s lifetime - insisted on raising a €25,000 tax settlement made by the judge 11 years ago.

The settlement story broke last week when Mr Mahon issued a statement ahead of a report appearing in a magazine.

The judge made it clear he had disclosed the settlement to the authorities on his appointment to the tribunal earlier this year.

Today he pointed out that the hearing was concerned only with the awarding of costs against Mr Lawlor, and he rose from his bench when Mr Lawlor refused to stop making his arguments.

Mr Lawlor said a newspaper report claiming that tribunal lawyers believed he was responsible for leaking the story of the judge’s tax affairs had prejudiced him in the eyes of the inquiry.

He told the chairman he was not behind the story and that he had written to the Garda commissioner asking him to investigate the allegation.

Mr Lawlor demanded a statement saying whether the tribunal believed the story was “unfounded or if there is suspicion that I am the source of the story”.

He added: “The net result is that my position in appearing before the chairman is now prejudiced until such time as this matter is fully investigated and reported on and I am afforded the opportunity to clear my name.”

After a short break, Judge Mahon returned to his bench and adjourned the proceedings, pending a ruling by him next week.