FF awaits Gilmartin evidence

PROPERTY developer Tom Gilmartin is expected to make claims that will prove deeply embarrassing to Fianna Fáil when he begins his evidence at the Mahon Tribunal in Dublin Castle this week.

The tribunal, investigating payments to politicians related to planning issues, begins its latest module on Wednesday and will focus on the rezoning of Quarryvale in west county Dublin and the proposed development of Bachelors Walk in the city.

Mr Gilmartin is expected to give details of a meeting with several Fianna Fáil cabinet members, including Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, which he has alleged took place in Leinster House in February 1989.

At the time he was attempting to smooth the way for proposed shopping developments at Quarry -vale and Bachelor’s Walk. After the meeting, Mr Gilmartin says he was approached by a man he did not recognise and told to lodge £5 million into an Isle of Man bank account for Fianna Fáil.

The Taoiseach has said he has no recollection of the meeting, and will himself give evidence in this module of the tribunal, as will several other leading party figures.

These include Transport Minister Seamus Brennan, former taoiseach Albert Reynolds, and former ministers Mary O’Rourke, Ray Burke, Ray McSharry and Gerry Collins.

Mr Gilmartin did not lodge money to the Isle of Man account, but in June 1989 gave £50,000 to former minister Padraig Flynn, who was then party treasurer.

He said the money was intended as a donation to the party, but ended up in one of Mr Flynn’s bank accounts.

The Taoiseach recently described this payment in the Dáil as “extraordinary”, adding: “I don’t expect any individual expected it wouldn’t be without strings attached. Obviously, the question arises, what was it for?” he stated.

The Quarryvale module will be split into two phases: the first starting on Wednesday and dealing with Mr Gilmartin’s evidence; the second, to explore bribery allegations made by former Government press secretary Frank Dunlop, is due later this year.

The tribunal intends adjourning hearings on the first phase by the end of April but politically-explosive testimony could damage Fianna Fáil’s prospects in June’s local and European elections.

Meanwhile, Government figures have shown the Mahon Tribunal is the most expensive of the various State inquiries, costing almost €32 million to date. The total cost to the taxpayer of inquiries from September 1997 to October 2003 was €101m.

This covered the Mahon (formerly Flood), Lindsay, Morris and Barr tribunals, and the Laffoy, Barron, Dunne and Ferns inquiries. Payments to barristers and solicitors acting for the State account for the bulk of the figure.