Frank Dunlop
Encyclopedia
Frank Dunlop is an Irish lobbyist and former broadcast journalist with Raidió Teilifís Éireann
(RTÉ). Originally from County Kilkenny
, he is a key witness to the Mahon Tribunal which is investigating improper payments by property developers to Irish politicians and will be a key witness in pending political corruption
cases involving property developers and politicians to whom he paid bribes on their behalf.
party in 1974, based at Leinster House
. He was head of the Irish Government
's Information Service and Government Press Secretary from 1977 to 1982, a position that had been established on Dunlop's recommendation. This role involved developing relationships with media outlets, including RTÉ, The Irish Times
, Irish Independent
amongst others. There were no other authorised radio stations in Ireland at this stage although there were quite a number of illegal broadcasters. The Government Information Service, prior to Dunlop's time, was the established unit of the Taoiseach
's office for the dissemination of information relating to the activities of the Government. Dunlop described its role to The Mahon Tribunal
in 2003, as being a 'post office' - "it just delivered copies of statements, speeches, announcements, CSO details to the news desks of newspapers; there was no substantive policy discussions with the media prior to that time".
The objective was to facilitate an understanding in the media of what Fianna Fáil was doing or was about at that time. This role enabled Dunlop to develop significant relationships with political correspondents, news reporters, editorial personnel and politicians.
He subsequently moved with Mr Boland to the Department of the Environment and worked there for about two years as Assistant Secretary with responsibility for media matters but he had no input on planning matters.
He resigned from Murray Consultants in 1989 and established his own firm, Frank Dunlop & Associates. He brought his client portfolio with him, paying the parters of Murray Consultants an agreed sum over a period of two or three years. By this stage Dunlop had garnered a knowledge of the essential elements of the Irish planning process although he has no formal training in planning or architecture.
Dunlop told The Mahon Tribunal
, in June 2006, that he kept a stash of cash to bribe county councillors on a regular basis in the 18 property development transactions he was involved with as a public relations consultant. He has described how several politicians telephoned him in panic trying to discover how much he had paid them when bribery allegations first emerged. Liam Lawlor
introduced him to landowners and developers.
with Fergus Finlay
former the chef de cabinet of the Irish Labour Party. RTÉ
dropped both presenters in favour of Olivia O'Leary
, after Frank Dunlop revealed that he had made payments to politicians at The Mahon Tribunal.
, formerly known as The Flood Tribunal, on November 4, 1997. The work of this Tribunal is ongoing and Frank Dunlop was a key witness to its deliberations. When he first took the witness stand in 2000, Chairman Flood responded to his evidence by asking him to reflect overnight on his position. The following day, Dunlop began to reveal payments that he had made to politicians. His eventually ended 124 days on the witness stand in March 2008
successfully obtained a High Court order on July 26, 2006 freezing land assets of 107 acre (0.43301402 km²) at Carrickmines
, County Dublin
owned by Jackson Way Properties Ltd and preventing their sale. This means that these cannot be sold or pledged as collateral without the consent of the High Court. CAB contended that these lands had been rezoned on 16 December 1997 by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
from agricultural to industrial after Dunlop bribed and made corrupt payments to councillors to secure their support in the rezoning vote. That rezoning vote increased the value of just 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) of the property from €8 million to €61 million. CAB has interviewed and took statements from Dunlop between 2004 and 2006. He will be called to testify in the criminal trial.
If this case succeeds the potential money realised by CAB will be substantially more than the yield from gangland criminals since 1996. Other similar cases are likely to ensue involving lands investigated by The Mahon Tribunal
.
The lands in question have been the subject of investigation by The Mahon Tribunal
in 2003 and 2004.
On 26 May 2009, he was sentenced to two years in prison for corruption, with the final six months suspended.. He was released from prison on 10 July 2010, having served 14 months.
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
(RTÉ). Originally from County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, he is a key witness to the Mahon Tribunal which is investigating improper payments by property developers to Irish politicians and will be a key witness in pending political corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
cases involving property developers and politicians to whom he paid bribes on their behalf.
Party and Government Press Secretary
He was appointed Press Secretary of the Fianna FáilFianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
party in 1974, based at Leinster House
Leinster House
Leinster House is the name of the building housing the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland.Leinster House was originally the ducal palace of the Dukes of Leinster. Since 1922, it is a complex of buildings, of which the former ducal palace is the core, which house Oireachtas Éireann, its...
. He was head of the Irish Government
Irish Government
The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...
's Information Service and Government Press Secretary from 1977 to 1982, a position that had been established on Dunlop's recommendation. This role involved developing relationships with media outlets, including RTÉ, The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
, Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
amongst others. There were no other authorised radio stations in Ireland at this stage although there were quite a number of illegal broadcasters. The Government Information Service, prior to Dunlop's time, was the established unit of the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
's office for the dissemination of information relating to the activities of the Government. Dunlop described its role to The Mahon Tribunal
The Mahon Tribunal
The Tribunal of Inquiry Into Certain Planning Matters and Payments, commonly known as the Mahon Tribunal, is a public inquiry in Ireland established by Dáil Éireann in 1997 to investigate allegations of corrupt payments to politicians regarding political decisions...
in 2003, as being a 'post office' - "it just delivered copies of statements, speeches, announcements, CSO details to the news desks of newspapers; there was no substantive policy discussions with the media prior to that time".
The objective was to facilitate an understanding in the media of what Fianna Fáil was doing or was about at that time. This role enabled Dunlop to develop significant relationships with political correspondents, news reporters, editorial personnel and politicians.
Departments of Education and Environment
Following a change in government, Dunlop was an established civil servant with the rank of Assistant Secretary. He moved to the Department of Education when Fine Gael politician John Boland was Minister and his role was liaison with the media. He made some inputs on policy matter on education.He subsequently moved with Mr Boland to the Department of the Environment and worked there for about two years as Assistant Secretary with responsibility for media matters but he had no input on planning matters.
Public relations consultant
Dunlop left the civil service in 1986 and became a public relations consultant with Dublin firm, Murray Consultants. He had a director's role which involved developing a portfolio of clients and he head a target fee income to deliver annually. Access to government enables a public relations consultant to be, in effect, a public affairs consultant and Dunlop's immediate prior experience made him uniquely qualified in this respect.He resigned from Murray Consultants in 1989 and established his own firm, Frank Dunlop & Associates. He brought his client portfolio with him, paying the parters of Murray Consultants an agreed sum over a period of two or three years. By this stage Dunlop had garnered a knowledge of the essential elements of the Irish planning process although he has no formal training in planning or architecture.
Dunlop told The Mahon Tribunal
The Mahon Tribunal
The Tribunal of Inquiry Into Certain Planning Matters and Payments, commonly known as the Mahon Tribunal, is a public inquiry in Ireland established by Dáil Éireann in 1997 to investigate allegations of corrupt payments to politicians regarding political decisions...
, in June 2006, that he kept a stash of cash to bribe county councillors on a regular basis in the 18 property development transactions he was involved with as a public relations consultant. He has described how several politicians telephoned him in panic trying to discover how much he had paid them when bribery allegations first emerged. Liam Lawlor
Liam Lawlor
Liam Aloysius Lawlor was an Irish politician who resigned from the Fianna Fáil political party following a finding by a Party standards committee that he had failed to co-operate with its investigation into planning irregularities, and subsequently came into conflict with the Mahon Tribunal.-Early...
introduced him to landowners and developers.
Television presenter
From 1997 to 2000, he presented the Network 2 show Later On 2Later On 2
Later On 2 was part of the Network 2/RTÉ Two N2 rebrand of 1997. It was broadcast after News 2 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night at 11:20pm.-Tuesday night:...
with Fergus Finlay
Fergus Finlay
Fergus Finlay was for some years the chef de cabinet of the Irish Labour Party, and is the chief executive of the charity Barnardo's in Ireland. He is also a weekly columnist with the Irish Examiner and the author of a number of books....
former the chef de cabinet of the Irish Labour Party. RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
dropped both presenters in favour of Olivia O'Leary
Olivia O'Leary
Olivia O'Leary is an Irish journalist, writer and current affairs presenter.Educated at St Leo's College, Carlow and at University College Dublin, she worked with the Nationalist and Leinster Times in Carlow...
, after Frank Dunlop revealed that he had made payments to politicians at The Mahon Tribunal.
The Mahon Tribunal
The Irish Government established a "Tribunal of Inquiry Into Certain Planning Matters and Payments", The Mahon TribunalThe Mahon Tribunal
The Tribunal of Inquiry Into Certain Planning Matters and Payments, commonly known as the Mahon Tribunal, is a public inquiry in Ireland established by Dáil Éireann in 1997 to investigate allegations of corrupt payments to politicians regarding political decisions...
, formerly known as The Flood Tribunal, on November 4, 1997. The work of this Tribunal is ongoing and Frank Dunlop was a key witness to its deliberations. When he first took the witness stand in 2000, Chairman Flood responded to his evidence by asking him to reflect overnight on his position. The following day, Dunlop began to reveal payments that he had made to politicians. His eventually ended 124 days on the witness stand in March 2008
Criminal Assets Bureau Investigation
The Criminal Assets BureauCriminal Assets Bureau
The Criminal Assets Bureau is a law enforcement agency in Ireland, the purpose of which is to recover the proceeds of organised crime. It is a division of the Garda , but reports annually to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform...
successfully obtained a High Court order on July 26, 2006 freezing land assets of 107 acre (0.43301402 km²) at Carrickmines
Carrickmines
Carrickmines is suburb of Dublin in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Ireland. Traditionally a location for large expensive houses, being situated just south of Foxrock. The area is now divided north/south by the M50 motorway and its associated Junction 15...
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
owned by Jackson Way Properties Ltd and preventing their sale. This means that these cannot be sold or pledged as collateral without the consent of the High Court. CAB contended that these lands had been rezoned on 16 December 1997 by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is the local authority for the county of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown in Ireland. It is one of three local authorities that comprised the former Dublin County Council before its abolition and one of four councils in the Dublin Region. It serves a population of...
from agricultural to industrial after Dunlop bribed and made corrupt payments to councillors to secure their support in the rezoning vote. That rezoning vote increased the value of just 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) of the property from €8 million to €61 million. CAB has interviewed and took statements from Dunlop between 2004 and 2006. He will be called to testify in the criminal trial.
If this case succeeds the potential money realised by CAB will be substantially more than the yield from gangland criminals since 1996. Other similar cases are likely to ensue involving lands investigated by The Mahon Tribunal
The Mahon Tribunal
The Tribunal of Inquiry Into Certain Planning Matters and Payments, commonly known as the Mahon Tribunal, is a public inquiry in Ireland established by Dáil Éireann in 1997 to investigate allegations of corrupt payments to politicians regarding political decisions...
.
Prison
Dunlop himself has been charged with corruption - to which his reply was 'we always knew this day was coming and I will not be contesting the charges'.The lands in question have been the subject of investigation by The Mahon Tribunal
The Mahon Tribunal
The Tribunal of Inquiry Into Certain Planning Matters and Payments, commonly known as the Mahon Tribunal, is a public inquiry in Ireland established by Dáil Éireann in 1997 to investigate allegations of corrupt payments to politicians regarding political decisions...
in 2003 and 2004.
On 26 May 2009, he was sentenced to two years in prison for corruption, with the final six months suspended.. He was released from prison on 10 July 2010, having served 14 months.