Politicians ‘had minor role in blocking project’

RETIRED developer Tom Gilmartin has conceded that politicians were not the main reason why his plans to develop a large-scale shopping centre in Dublin in the late 1980s collapsed.

The Sligo-born businessman told the Mahon Tribunal yesterday, the main roadblock to the £100m development at Bachelor’s Walk came from property owners in the area.

Facing cross-examination by former TD Liam Lawlor, whom he has accused of delaying the project, Mr Gilmartin acknowledged that the plan became “unviable” because the cost of properties had more than doubled following newspaper reports about the development.