Garda∅ in Wexford are investigating an allegation that a Fine Gael councillor, Ms Anna Fenlon, was offered a £4,000 contribution to charity to change her vote on a land rezoning application being considered by Wexford County Council.
The alleged inducement took the form of an offer by a third party acting for a property developer to pay £4,000 to a charity of the councillor's choice if she agreed to vote in favour of rezoning a parcel of land for housing.
Believing it to be a bribe, Ms Fenlon rejected it and made a complaint to the Garda following legal advice and discussions with senior party colleagues. She has been interviewed by detectives.
"I have no doubt it was a bribe," said Ms Fenlon, adding she was shocked by the offer. "I told him I wouldn't have anything to do with it and he could give it to whatever charity he liked."
She said the alleged bribe related to a rezoning issue in the Wexford area. She had concerns about it and considered that to vote in favour would not be proper planning.
Contacted yesterday, a representative of the developers said: "If it refers to us, the allegations are totally untrue. We have to clear our name here, through the courts if necessary. As a company involved in development, it's something we abhor."
He said he met the councillor involved last year while lobbying all seven district committee councillors and all of them were treated the same way.
No public representative or official sought, or was offered, an inducement of any kind, the spokesman said.
Ms Fenlon said she received a telephone call recently to her home as the issue was due to be finally decided at district committee level before being brought to a full meeting of Wexford County Council for ratification.
The caller asked to meet her but she was busy at the time and could not agree to a meeting.
A telephone conversation ensued during which she was asked about the rezoning application.
"He asked, 'Is the lady for turning?' I said I couldn't vote in favour of it because it wasn't proper planning and the best I could do was abstain. Then the suggestion came that he had a cheque for £4,000 for any charity I wished to nominate."
At the district committee meeting which took place following the incident a decision to recommend that the land be rezoned for housing, was carried.