Gilmartin: I told lawyers about cash demand

BUSINESSMAN Tom Gilmartin insisted yesterday he had previously told lawyers for the Mahon Tribunal a close associate of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had demanded £500,000 for Mr Ahern’s support.

In his earlier testimony this week Mr Gilmartin said he had not mentioned the £500,000 in his original statement to the tribunal six years ago.

Reflecting on this evidence, Mr Gilmartin said he had been confused the previous day when asked whether he had previously told the tribunal about the £500,000 allegedly demanded in 1989 by Joe Burke, an associate of Mr Ahern for the then Minister for Labour’s support for the Quarryvale project.