‘Golden circle’ prevented shopping development, claims developer

THE Planning Tribunal has heard allegations that “a golden circle” was in operation to prevent Tom Gilmartin from developing a major shopping centre at Quarryvale in west Dublin.

The retired developer told the inquiry yesterday he believed the actions of several members of Dublin County Council, led by the former Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor, had forced him to abandon the project in the early 1990s.

Other councillors identified by Mr Gilmartin as seeking money from him for their support on Quarryvale were Finbarr Hanrahan, Seán Gilbride and Colm McGrath, who were all party colleagues of Mr Lawlor at the time.

Under cross-examination by the former TD, Mr Gilmartin said those named had been hired and paid to defraud him out of the Quarryvale site. He also identified Cork-based developer Owen O'Callaghan as one of the people who had paid Mr Lawlor to interfere with his plans.

However, the line of questioning of the witness was curtailed by the tribunal members, who pointed out that such allegations would be more appropriately dealt with at a related, but separate, module of the inquiry later this year. In other evidence, Mr Gilmartin said £40,000 had been "stolen" from his bank account and "paid" to Mr Lawlor in the developer's office.

Addressing Mr Lawlor, he remarked: "you were one of the kingpins involved hired and paid for." Mr Lawlor expressed surprise that he was being accused of interfering with Mr Gilmartin's project when he had voted in favour of rezoning Quarryvale to assist the development of a shopping centre on the site. The former TD, who is legally representing himself, said he and his area colleague, Cllr Hanrahan, had persuaded other Fianna Fáil councillors of the need to support the project.

However, Mr Gilmartin accused Mr Lawlor and the former assistant Dublin city and county manager, George Redmond, of making false allegations of fraud against him and other council officials. He explained that rumours were spread that he and two senior employees of Dublin Corporation had "cosy deals" to buy land at Quarryvale owned by the local authority.

Meanwhile, the witness informed the tribunal that several Government ministers including Bertie Ahern and Pádraig Flynn wanted the investment in Quarryvale "by hook or by crook" in 1989.

In other evidence, lawyers for another former Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, said their client had no recollection of being at a meeting with other ministers in Leinster House in February 1989, as alleged by Mr Gilmartin.