Only two of the then councillors referred to in the report on the Carrickmines module commented publicly yesterday.
A statement issued on behalf of Don Lydon, a Fianna Fáil councillor at the time, by the legal firm Sheehan and Partners, categorically denied the "findings'' based on the testimony of Frank Dunlop and quoted from the Mahon tribunal report.
The firm said its client was most aggrieved that the tribunal should give credence to Mr Dunlop’s allegations, given the following quotation in the report: “The tribunal was satisfied that in a number of instances, and in many fundamental respects, Mr Dunlop continued, post-2000, to actively and purposely mislead the tribunal. This created an enormous difficulty for the tribunal and rendered the issue of his credibility to be a persistent and complicating factor for its deliberations,” it said. It noted yesterday’s report said that the tribunal believed Mr Dunlop set a course for himself from the outset “to protect the interests of certain parties’’.
Credibility
It said Mr Dunlop's credibility was further highlighted during the recent case at the Circuit Criminal Court where, under cross-examination by Michael O'Higgins SC, "he was again demonstrated to have lied while giving evidence".
The statement concluded: “Any and all ‘findings’ made against our client by the Mahon tribunal, which are based on the allegations of Mr Dunlop, are categorically denied and shall be dealt with comprehensively in another forum.”
Betty Coffey, a Fianna Fáil councillor at the time, said she had not read the report. "I cannot comment until I have read it,'' she added.
