Former lobbyist Frank Dunlop has admitted to the Mahon Tribunal that he misled county councillors by saying he was going to develop the racecourse lands in Baldoyle, north Dublin.
Mr Dunlop told the inquiry that although he was the only person publicly identified with the project to build 900 houses, it was something beyond his financial scope.
The tribunal had heard that the owner of the lands, John Byrne, entered into an option agreement with a consortium including Mr Dunlop and two directors of Davy Hickey Properties.
Under the agreement, the consortium would buy the land from Mr Byrne at £30,000 an acre if they got planning permission.
Mr Dunlop said he paid bribes of £1,000 to six different councillors to support the rezoning and a composite bribe of £5,000 to another which included other rezonings.
He also said he paid the late Liam Lawlor £25,000 for supporting a number of projects, including Baldoyle.
But attempts to rezone the lands in 1993 were unsuccessful and the option agreement with Mr Byrne lapsed.
