Controversial Fianna Fáil supporters and wealthy property developers Tom and Michael Bailey are in line for a multimillion-euro payday if the Metro North project goes ahead. They have also had a number of dealings with Anglo Irish Bank in recent years regarding lands in Swords located along the proposed Metro line, a Sunday Tribune investigation has established.

In a revelation likely to prompt renewed criticism of the links between Fianna Fáil and major property developers, the brothers and companies associated with them have acquired significant land interests, at times involving the use of Anglo funds, next to two stops on the proposed Metro North line in north Co Dublin.

The lands, at a site known as Barrysparks next to the Airside retail park in Swords, and more recently at Lissenhall in Swords, are located in prime positions near to the proposed Metro North stops for Swords and Lissenhall.

Industry experts say even in the current economic climate the value of these lands is set to soar as a result of any government decision to approve funding for the multibillion-euro project.

As an oral hearing by An Bord Pleanála into Metro North gets underway tomorrow in Croke Park, documentation obtained from the RPA reveals it has identified about a dozen tracts of land in Swords which have strong links to the Bailey brothers, and which it may need to acquire to enable the Metro North to proceed.

The lands are either part-owned or part-occupied by the brothers individually, their company Bovale Developments Ltd or a company known as Balheary Properties Ltd. Balheary shares a registered address with Bovale at No 59 Fitzwilliam Square.

Attempts to contact the Bailey brothers to discuss the lands were unsuccessful.

In two submissions lodged with the planning board last autumn, seen by the Sunday Tribune, the developers strongly support the proposed Metro North route and repeatedly stress its importance to their plans for development of lands they are involved with at Lissenhall and Barrysparks.