Mahon tribunal:Businessman Robert White has rejected a claim by Frank Dunlop that he paid the lobbyist £5,000 in cash in the Shelbourne hotel to ensure that councillors supported a planning development involving his land in north Dublin.
Mr White said yesterday he rejected Mr Dunlop's claim that the money was paid in the full knowledge that payments would be made to councillors.
Mr White agreed he engaged Mr Dunlop to carry out public relations work with residents and the media for the hotel development in 1990. While Mr Dunlop had said he was familiar with politicians, he said this was not relevant as he had already found proposers and seconders for the development.
He paid Mr Dunlop £2,500 by cheque as a fee. Asked why he was so certain the money was paid by cheque, Mr White said he remembered going to Mr Dunlop's office and handing him the cheque.
However, shortly afterwards, he found out that Mr Dunlop was carrying out similar work for another development which would have been detrimental to his own proposal. On learning this he ceased all dealings with him. "I really just didn't want to see the gentleman again, quite frankly."
Mr White said it was for someone else to decide whether Mr Dunlop had fabricated the details of their agreement and their contacts. However, he agreed it was his view that many of the details recording their alleged contact in Mr Dunlop's diary were fabrications. He rejected Mr Dunlop's claim that they had met in the Shelbourne hotel.
