Builder discloses €20,000 payment to FG councillor

Builder Joe Moran has told the Mahon Tribunal that he paid Fine Gael councillor Anne Devitt €20,000 four years ago in return for her help in relation to a planning application.

Mr Moran said his company, Rayband, employed Ms Devitt for professional advice and legal services in an effort to resolve access problems on the land at Lissenhall in Swords, Co Dublin.

However, he said it never dawned on him that a conflict of interest may exist and that people would think he was trying to buy the politician.