Ahern says Gilmartin’s allegations are ‘crazy’

BERTIE AHERN yesterday accused developer Tom Gilmartin of being “down his neck for seven and a half years” and levelling “mad and crazy” allegations — including blackmail — against him.

Hitting out at the key tribunal witness, the Taoiseach said he had been accused of having offshore accounts, receiving payments and a lot worse. “I get allegations 10 a penny. As you know yourself it goes with the turf. But these were allegations made to the senior counsel for the tribunal that was acting under law,” he said at Dublin Castle.

Many of Mr Gilmartin’s claims were circulated after a Supreme Court ruling in March 2005, which paved the way for third parties to access some records of private briefings between tribunal lawyers and witnesses.