Mahon Tribunal: A former Dublin county councillor told the tribunal yesterday the Labour Party believed lobbyists were to be "avoided at all costs".
Mr John O'Halloran, who was elected for Labour in 1991 but lost the whip two years later over his support for rezoning, said the party considered "all development was wrong".
He told his counsel, Mr Martin Dully, his disagreement with this policy led to friction.
In response to tribunal queries about payments made to him by the lobbyist Mr Frank Dunlop, the witness has explained that he operated a catering business solely with cash. His business income was "intermingled" with legitimate payments relating to his political career.
He wasn't the most organised person and he hadn't kept any financial records, he told Mr Dully. He denied trying to "disguise" payments from Mr Dunlop in the accounts.
Asked if he was aware of allegations of political corruption surrounding the council, Mr O'Halloran said he was "very much aware" of rumours that were circulating.
He recalled that a garda from Store Street had contacted him about those rumours. He assumed the other councillors had also been contacted.
Judge Mary Faherty asked if the Labour Party's attitude had not "raised your antennae" and made him cautious about accepting payments.
Mr O'Halloran replied it hadn't, because "I didn't see anything wrong with it".