Clouds over Bertie as election draws near
BERTIE AHERN won’t be called to the Mahon Planning Tribunal before the General Election is held on May 24.
However, Sligo-born developer Tom Gilmartin’s central allegation will continue to cast a shadow over the political hustings.
Before Mr Ahern yesterday named the election date the tribunal’s stated intention had been for its legal team to make an opening statement today, setting out the intended evidence to be taken over the coming weeks and months.
And the tribunal said it would not conduct public hearings for approximately two weeks before polling day. About 120 witnesses are listed to testify on the Quarryvale 11 module.
Pundits now point to the inherent unfairness of allowing a public recital of allegations — which put Mr Ahern centre stage — when the Taoiseach cannot respond until after the election is over.
Today’s opening tribunal statement will recite Mr Gilmartin’s claim that Mr O’Callaghan informed him nearly £80,000 had been paid to Mr Ahern.
At the time of the alleged payment, the Fianna Fáil leader was Minister for Finance. It is claimed the purpose was to block a tax break for a rival shopping centre being developed in Blanchardstown, west Dublin.
Mr O’Callaghan’s legal bid to stop the tribunal’s Quarryvale Two probe, begun in November 2005 and failed in the Supreme Court in late March.
Returning to Ireland in the late 1980s as a successful British-based developer, Mr Gilmartin had ambitions to develop the Quarryvale shopping centre with Cork-based Mr O’Callaghan.
At Dublin Castle tomorrow Mr Gilmartin is expected to testify how Mr O’Callaghan told him he made two payments totalling £80,000 to Mr Ahern. The purpose of the alleged payments was to block tax designation for the rival Blanchardstown Shopping Centre being developed.
Mr Ahern has said the allegations are “utterly false” and that he never received money from Mr O’Callaghan, either directly or through intermediaries.
Strongly denying the allegation, Mr Ahern reminded the tribunal he had successfully taken a libel action against Denis ‘Starry’ O’Brien who falsely alleged he had given a £50,000 cheque to Mr Ahern on behalf of Mr O’Callaghan.
Mr Gilmartin will also testify that at a meeting attended by himself and Mr O’Callaghan, the Cork developer said he had heard “from the horse’s mouth” that Blanchardstown was definitely not getting tax designation. When Mr Gilmartin asked what he meant, Mr O’Callaghan allegedly replied Mr Ahern had given this assurance.
Mr O’Callaghan allegedly did not want Blanchardstown to receive tax designation status and he had let it be known in political circles.
The partnership between Mr Gilmartin and Mr O’Callaghan later ended in bitterness.
The tribunal has heard claims that lobbyist Frank Dunlop made corrupt payments totalling nearly £225,000 to 14 politicians to secure the Quarryvale rezoning.
Two former Taoisigh, Albert Reynolds and John Bruton, along with former EU commissioner are listed to give evidence.
