Ahern ‘given details of extortion attempts’

FORMER property developer Tom Gilmartin insisted yesterday he had provided Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in 1989 with details of various extortion attempts linked to his plans to develop a number of shopping centres in Dublin.

Mr Gilmartin told the Planning Tribunal that these included a demand for £5m if he wanted his proposal to develop a large-scale complex at Quarryvale in west Dublin to succeed.

“I outlined most of the problems (to Mr Ahern) and what was happening and the various demands for money,” said Mr Gilmartin.