‘Ill-advised’ to ignore requests for donations
Politicians could hold a grudge and might not support development plans if they did not receive donations towards their election expenses, according to Dominic Glennane.
The tribunal is investigating a series of unexplained cash payments amounting to £160,000 made by Monarch between 1991 and 1996, attributed to “general promotion” connected with the company’s Cherrywood housing project in south Dublin.
Mr Glennane told the tribunal it would be like “shooting yourself in the foot” not to pay when politicians asked for a donation.
“If somebody comes to you and asks you to make a contribution to some charity they are sponsoring or to their election expenses, I think it would be very ill-advised not to do it,” he said.
Judge Gerald Keys suggested the grudge would be expressed when a motion came up before the council and the politician you refused to pay a donation to would not vote in favour of that project or that motion.
Mr Glennane said he couldn’t make that quantum leap.
Judge Keys said: “That is not a quantum leap. Think about it. And look at the context of which all of the monies were paid by Monarch and the reasons why they were paid.
“Surely, as night follows day, there is a strong inference from that — that if you don’t pay the donation you won’t get the vote,” said Judge Keys.
“No, I think what I meant to say was you might cause offence,” said Mr Glennane.
Judge Keys invited Mr Glennane to speculate on the consequence of offending a politician by not giving him a donation.
When Mr Glennane said his “shooting yourself in the foot” remark was a very loose comment, Judge Keys exclaimed: “Are you serious?” After Mr Glennane said he still thought it was a loose comment, Judge Keys said he didn’t accept that.
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