Inquiry closes its doors after 916 days and 400 witnesses
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THE Mahon Tribunal, the longest running public inquiry in the history of the State has concluded its public hearings.
After 916 days hearing evidence from over 400 witnesses since 2002, the inquiry has effectively wound up.
In the last six years over 60,000 pages of evidence have been produced and 76,000 pages of documents circulated.
Next month the former assistant city and county manager George Redmond will make a brief appearance at the tribunal after he was given permission to cross-examine a former planner, Gerry Carroll, in the Carrickmines One module.
Tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon said that yesterday was an unusual day in the life of the hearing.
There were no witnesses, but information relating to the financial affairs of the late Liam Lawlor was read into the official record. Thanking all the witnesses who had given evidence, Judge Mahon said he and his two colleagues recognised that giving evidence in such a public forum as a tribunal was daunting, stressful and often inconvenient, especially for those who were required to give evidence over a prolonged period.
The chairman added that while the tribunal had powers to compel witnesses within the jurisdiction to attend, that power was very rarely utilised with the majority of witnesses coming to give their evidence on a voluntary basis.
Hazel Lawlor, widow of Liam Lawlor had been listed as a witness in the Quarryvale Two module, but Mrs Lawlor will not now be called following medical assessment from her own doctors and a doctor appointed by the tribunal .
The couple's son, Niall Lawlor, was also listed as a witnesses after the tribunal had identified a number of bank accounts which had been opened by him for his father's benefit.
Tribunal counsel Patricia Dillon said that last May Niall Lawlor, who lives in the US, indicated he would not be coming to the tribunal to give evidence.
Through his US attorney, William J Lawlor, Mr Lawlor said he was a private citizen and no allegations of wrongdoing had been made against him.
Taoiseach
Evidence in the Cloghran module, which was taken on commission from Tim Collins, a friend of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, was also read into the official record by tribunal registrar Peter Kavanagh.
Mr Collins's evidence was taken in private earlier this month for medical reasons and dealt with his role in a land deal involving three businessmen -- Niall Kenny, John Butler and Tom Williams.
Mr Collins had introduced Frank Dunlop as a lobbyist to Mr Butler following a chance meeting in an architect's office.
The trio had bought 18 acres at Cloghran near Dublin Airport and hoped to build a hotel there but this never materialised.
The chairman said that the tribunal reserved the right to call new evidence and new witnesses if necessary.
- Lorna Reid
