O'Callaghan: FG councillor sought bribe

Property developer Owen O'Callaghan has accused the late Fine Gael Councillor Tom Hand of seeking £250,000 punt in return for planning favours.

Giving evidence to the Mahon Tribunal today, Mr O'Callaghan said Mr Hand asked for the money in return for his vote on a re-zoning motion at Quarryvale in west Dublin, where the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre was later built.

He said he was shocked by the late councillor's demand.

Former political lobbyist Frank Dunlop has already told the tribunal that Mr Hand asked him for £250,000 in the early 1990s in return for his vote on the motion.

However, today was the first time Mr O'Callaghan supported the allegation, saying Cllr Hand had told him he was also looking for the money from Mr Dunlop.

The developer said he warned Mr Hand that he would tell then Fine Gael leader John Bruton about the demand, but the councillor appeared not to care and said he deserved the money.

Mr Dunlop says he paid Mr Hand a total of £23,000 for his support on the Quarryvale rezoning, making payments before and after the council vote.

The inquiry has also heard details of three unexplained payments totalling £37,000 to the councillor's bank accounts in AIB and NIB.