Gilmartin tells of two meetings with MacSharry

BUSINESSMAN Tom Gilmartin yesterday insisted he met the former Fianna Fáil Minister for Finance Ray MacSharry in his offices in December 1987.

Opening his evidence as main witness in the module on the Quarryvale (Liffey Valley) and Bachelors Walk developments, Mr Gilmartin told the tribunal he met Mr MacSharry twice in 1987.

Tribunal lawyer John Gallagher SC said Mr MacSharry had told the legal team he did not recall meeting Mr Gilmartin regarding the developments.

But giving evidence yesterday, Mr Gilmartin gave detailed accounts of the alleged meetings, the first at Mr MacSharry’s constituency office in Sligo, the second in Mr MacSharry’s office off Merrion Square.

Six years after his allegations first came to light, Mr Gilmartin finally took the stand just before 3pm to give evidence about his dealings with politicians and ministers during the late 1980s. At the time, he was trying to develop ambitious retail centres at Bachelors Walk and Quarryvale.

During his evidence, it emerged that Mr Gilmartin was granted immunity from prosecution by the then DPP in relation to his evidence to the tribunal. Mr Gilmartin, who was living in England in the late 1990s and could not be compelled to attend, sought immunity on his solicitors’ advice.

The bulk of Mr Gilmartin’s evidence yesterday concerned his background and how he began assembling properties for the developments under scrutiny.

One new revelation was his claim that he had met Mr MacSharry twice in 1987. In a surprising development, Mr Gallagher said that the tribunal had been unaware until yesterday of the meeting.

The matter came up in questioning on a document that set out the agreement between Mr Gilmartin and Arlington, the British property company financing the project.

Mr Gilmartin was to be paid a fee of £250,000 for developing the projects plus a 20% share of the profits.

His role was set out in the memorandum: “Tom Gilmartin to assist with both projects including their promotion and implementation both in the market and politically.”

Mr Gilmartin said he knew no politicians in Dublin when he began to assemble property.

On the alleged meeting, an internal memo from a Dublin solicitors firm dated December 15, 1987 referred to Mr Gilmartin meeting Mr MacSharry the previous Thursday.

It also referred to imminent concessions that Mr Gilmartin had wrought in relation to tax designation for Bachelors Walk. Mr Gilmartin said yesterday that Mr MacSharry, Padraig Flynn and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had assured him that letter would be forthcoming in relation to these. He added he was disappointed with the lack of enthusiasm Mr MacSharry had shown at the meeting.