A Fine Gael councillor has returned five separate campaign donations amounting to €12,500 following revelations that they had been given in breach of election rules.

Last week, the Sunday Tribune revealed that John Bailey, a councillor in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, had received separate donations from two firms under the umbrella of the same company with the same directors, which is prohibited by legislation.

This followed separate reports that he had received a further two cheques, both of which were for €2,500, from another two related companies with the same director.

The double donations – both from developers – were in contravention of strict laws that keep tabs on money received by politicians.

Responding to the reports last week, Bailey said he had returned five cheques given towards his unsuccessful 2007 general election campaign in order to "be seen to be above the law".

Bailey said he had not realised some of the companies had the same directors.

According to legislation, single donations to candidates are capped at €2,539.48, while companies and their subsidiaries are considered a single entity for the purpose of contributions.

Bailey, who is head of the Fine Gael group in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, said he was happy to rectify the situation but had not been aware of the contravention.

"All that money was refunded; it was totally innocent," he said.

"If anything was wrong I don't want to be part of it. The first time I became aware of this I refunded it all."