Lawyers claim Lawlor link to Coolamber deal

Lawyers for the Mahon Tribunal have claimed former Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor, businessman Jim Kennedy and solicitor John Caldwell were all involved in the purchase of lands at Coolamber in west Dublin in 1987.

In their opening statement ahead of a module investigating Coolamber, the lawyers said companies that held the land in the name of the three men decided not to officially record their involvement.

The lawyers also said these companies had failed to provide the tribunal with documentary evidence of the ownership of the lands.

Mr Lawlor, in a sworn affidavit, has previously denied any involvement in Coolamber and has publicly denied ever having a business relationship with Mr Kennedy.

The tribunal, which was established to inquire into planning corruption, is investigating the rezoning of the land from agricultural to residential, a move that saw its sale price increase from £209,000 in 1987 to more than €3m in December 1992.