Jones knew about councillor bribes: Dunlop
Thursday, 9 February 2006 22:15
Lobbyist Frank Dunlop has claimed that businessman Chris Jones knew councillors were bribed to get rezoning for his land in south Dublin.
Mr Jones has admitted giving £105,000 to politicians and Mr Dunlop around the time his land at Ballycullen was rezoned in 1992 but denies these payments were for rezoning.
Mr Dunlop said that in a meeting with Mr Jones he told him that the 'ways of the world would have to apply' in relation to the rezoning.
He said Mr Jones replied he was fully aware of that as he had opposition from two Fine Gael councillors.
Mr Dunlop said he concluded from meeting Mr Jones and his financial controller Derry Hussey that they knew corrupt payments were to be made to councillors.
Mr Dunlop agreed with tribunal counsel that there were inconsistencies in earlier interviews where he had said the issue of disbursement to councillors was not discussed.
And he had not marked this development with an asterisk in his statement as he had done with developments where bribes were made in full knowledge of the landowner involved.
Counsel for the tribunal, Patricia Dillon SC, said Mr Jones and Mr Hussey will deny that Mr Dunlop told him 'the ways of the world would have to apply' or knowing corrupt payments were going to councillors.
Councillors demanded £1,000-£5,000: Dunlop
Earlier, Mr Dunlop said Dublin County Councillors demanded between £1,000 and £5,000 to sign rezoning motions.
Mr Dunlop said the amount varied according to the size of the development and the negotiating skills of the councillor.
He said he paid Don Lydon of Fianna Fáil and the late Tom Hand of Fine Gael £2,000 each to propose a rezoning in October 1992.
He said Mr Hand had tried to negotiate more and when the sum was agreed said 'I hope you are not paying Don Lydon more'.
Mr Dunlop told the tribunal 'you never got anything signed unless you paid for it'.
- News At One: John Kilraine reports on the questioning of lobbyist Frank Dunlop at the Mahon Tribunal
- Nine News: John Kilraine details the evidence Frank Dunlop gave at Dublin Castle today
- Six One News: John Kilraine reports on claims by lobbyist, Frank Dunlop, at the Mahon tribunal
- One News: John Kilraine reports from the Mahon Tribunal on lobbyist Frank Dunlop's claims over payments to politicians by businessman Chris Jones
