It has emerged that Tommy Reilly, chairman of Meath Chamber of Commerce and a Fianna Fail candidate in the forthcoming Meath by-election, bought between 10 and 11 acres of land in the Tara/Skryne Valley in or around 1997 for between £90,000 and £100,000 punts, acording to the disgraced lobbyist Mr. Frank Dunlop.
Mr Reilly is a vocal suporter of the proposed M3 motorway through the Tara/Skryne Valley and has made public statements in regard to the Hill of Tara which equate the heritage value of the site to a few, "pots and pans".
Mr Dunlop also confirmed yesterday that he has known Mr. Reilly for between 25 and 30 years.
Mr. Dunlop was a key witness in the Flood Tribunal and has told the Tribunal that he maintained a "stash of cash" in a "war chest" in an AIB branch at Rathfarnham Road in Dublin and, from this stash of money, made payments to politicians in respect of planning decisions.
Mr Dunlop said yesterday that, "We did not have any great intentions for it. It is not near where you would be expecting any development to be taking place".
Mr Reilly told the Irish Times on 18/1/05 that, "everything was legal and above board" in relation to the purchase in the townland of Edoxtown near Skryne, County Meath.
Below you will find a detailed map of the Tara/Skyrne vallery. The proposed route of the M3 is highlighted in solid red. The townland of Edoxtown, where Reilly and Dunlop have their parcel of land, is circled in solid blue.
Source: The Irish Times,
Date: 19/1/04,
Page: 6
Title: "Party to check FF candidate's land deal"
Author: Mark Brennock, Chief Political Correspondent, The Irish Times. |
![Click To Enlarge](javascript:showpopup("993901_edoxtownlandinblue.JPG"))
