When you think that you are slightly more than half-right, you must stand up for what you believe in

Liam Lawlor

Deputies expressed their frustration with Liam Lawlor, aged 57, in a debate in the Dail on Thursday, which resulted in the unanimous and unprecedented appeal for him to quit.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said recent events involving Mr Lawlor had cheapened Ireland's political life, as the deputy sat stony-faced alone on a bench in the chamber, on temporary release from prison.

Mr Lawlor, who has been expelled from the ruling Fianna Fail party, said his non-compliance with the corruption tribunal was not "malicious" and completed his speech on a characteristically defiant note.

"I apologise that this has happened," he said. "But when you think that you are slightly more than half-right, you must stand up for what you believe in."

Jailed

The tribunal is investigating allegations that politicians were bribed by building companies to allow development on land in their constituencies.

Lawyers for the tribunal have issued four orders requesting Mr Lawlor to hand over documents.

I'm trying to help you, I really am

Liam Lawlor in court

After much delay, he handed over 157 folders of documents covering a vast variety of accounts and dealings ranging from off-shore accounts to companies in the Czech Republic and contracts to sell beef to Iraq.

But the tribunal ruled that not all relevant documents had been made available and the tribunal chairman, Justice Flood, sent Mr Lawlor to the High Court for non-compliance.

The court condemned Mr Lawlor for "a wanton lack of frankness and completeness" and it was not long before he landed in jail.

The evidence so far uncovered by the tribunal lawyers concerning Mr Lawlor's financial affairs does not look good for him.

They have revealed for example that a company set up by Mr Lawlor had a balance of IR�900,000 ($992,000) on its books, despite never operating.

And a witness has testified to handing him thousands of pounds in a plastic bag.

"I hope that I will be accountable for every penny I got and that no-one can make the slightest criticism of corruption," he told deputies before getting back in the prison van to return to jail on Thursday, without saying whether he would resign.

Popular case

Mr Lawlor has been the focus of a huge amount of attention from the Irish media.

In between prison sentences, he took a week out in New York over Christmas to spend time with his family. The media scrum at the airport led to a scandal of its own when the airport manager granted Mr Lawlor and his family VIP treatment, to the fury of the assembled reporters.

On occasions when he has attended the tribunal, he has proved very popular with the public, who line up to queue for seats.

After weeks of questioning leading nowhere, Mr Flood eventually lost patience with Mr Lawlor, snapping at him and quoting Machiavelli and Dr Johnson.

Mr Lawlor, in the meantime, sticks to repeating "I'm trying to help you, I really am," provoking laughter from the public seats.

Mr Lawlor has paid a IR�10,000 ($11,000) fine for his non-compliance, and the court cases are estimated to have cost him IR �200,000 ($220,000) in lawyer's fees so far.