Tribunal hears of bribe in Dáil bar

There was further pressure on a government TD last night after the Mahon tribunal heard claims he took a 2,000 pound bribe in the bar of the Irish parliament.

`Lobbyist' Mr Frank Dunlop alleged that he passed Mr G.V. Wright the money wrapped in a newspaper in return for his support for a rezoning in north Dublin.

Fianna Fáil TD Mr Wright, who is already facing a drink-driving charge after an incident in which he knocked down a pedestrian last September, is one of four Fianna Fail councillors Mr Dunlop claims he bribed to secure the rezoning of the land at Drumnigh, near Portmarnock, in 1993.

Mr Dunlop has also implicated the landowner and prominent car-dealer, Denis Mahony, saying Mr Mahony ``knew the way the world worked'' when he approached him to lobby for the rezoning.

The tribunal also heard of the astonishing rise in value of Mr Mahony's land during the 1990s. He bought the 30 acres in 1991 for #190,000 and transferred it to his daughter after it was rezoned. In 2000 it was sold to a developer for #13.5 million.

Mr Wright has denied Mr Dunlop's allegation, although he says he did receive a #3,000 ``contribution''. Mr Mahony accepts that he paid the lobbyist #10,000 and #2,000 but says this was a ``professional fee''.

Apart from the payment to Mr Wright, Mr Dunlop says he gave #2,000 to Cllr Sean Gilbride, and #1,000 apiece to the late Cllr Cyril Gallagher and the late Cllr Jack Larkin. The politicians have denied his allegations.

Urgent Appeal