Plans revealed hours after Flynn donation refused

DETAILS of confidential plans by a British development firm to acquire several properties in Dublin city centre appeared in a front page article of the Irish Times in 1989 within 48 hours of the company turning down a request for a political donation to Fianna Fáil from Padraig Flynn.

The Mahon Tribunal heard yesterday that this publicity surrounding plans by Arlington to buy several properties on Bachelor’s Walk in the late 1980s was a significant factor in the company’s subsequent withdrawal from the project, at a major financial loss.

In a statement to the inquiry, a former Arlington director, Ted Dadley, outlines how he and another company executive, Raymond Mould, were asked by the then Environment Minister Padraig Flynn to make a donation to “the boys” at the end of a party fundraiser at a London hotel in November 1989. Mr Dadley, who is due to appear as a witness at Dublin Castle this morning, claims current Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was also present at the Fianna Fáil function.