Lawlor brands retired developer a ‘liar’

FORMER Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor has branded retired developer Tom Gilmartin a liar over claims the politician brought him to a meeting of government figures including Charles Haughey in Leinster House in February 1989.

Cross-examining the Sligo-born businessman for a third day at the Planning Tribunal, Mr Lawlor said such a claim was part of Mr Gilmartin’s “wild, wicked allegations.” He also challenged a statement provided by former minister Mary O’Rourke, who is the only member of the then Fianna Fáil government to provide corroboration to Mr Gilmartin’s claims about the meeting.

Mr Lawlor said Ms O’Rourke’s description of how her ministerial office was “across the corridor” from where the meeting with Mr Gilmartin took place was not possible. However, the former TD, who vehemently rejects any suggestion that he ever brought Mr Gilmartin to such a meeting, said the witness had provided “an excellent description” about parts of the layout of Leinster House.

But he maintained that Mr Gilmartin, despite accurately describing the building, had confused two separate locations within the Dáil. “His description is contradictory in the ultimate,” said Mr Lawlor.

He also stressed that such a meeting as outlined by Mr Gilmartin never happened as there was no record of the businessman having been in Leinster House.

During a bad-tempered exchange, Mr Lawlor said the retired developer had named several ministers as having been at the meeting as part of his “wild, wicked allegations.” Mr Gilmartin retorted: “I wasn’t jailed for lying.” At one stage, tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon intervened in a heated argument between the parties. “Firing abuse when you are cross-examining, Mr Lawlor, is not on and is not acceptable,” he remarked.

Mr Lawlor said he was frustrated by not getting “straight answers to straight questions” after having waited so long to be able to challenge Mr Gilmartin’s evidence. Mr Lawlor added that he would have no reason to deny bringing the developer to a ministerial meeting if it had happened. “If I did, I would be delighted to tell you,” he told the tribunal. He also pointed out that it was highly unlikely that he would have introduced anybody to the Charles Haughey in 1989 as he was not “on best political terms” with his party leader at that stage.

“You know where I was and which room I was in,” replied Mr Gilmartin. “For once in your life, tell the truth.” Mr Lawlor also claimed an argument put forward by Conor Maguire SC, a barrister representing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern during a previous hearing, which challenged Mr Gilmartin’s description of Leinster House was wrong and the witness was “absolutely right.”

He is set to resume his cross-examination of the developer on Monday. Ms O’Rourke is due to take the witness stand on Monday.