Gilmartin hits out at Ahern ‘garbage’

FORMER developer Tom Gilmartin accused Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at the Mahon Tribunal yesterday of putting out “garbage” against him and insisted he had a right of reply.

Mr Gilmartin has previously claimed developer Owen O’Callaghan told him he gave £80,000 to Mr Ahern in return for political favours more than a decade ago. The claims made by Mr Gilmartin are strongly denied by both Mr Ahern and Mr O’Callaghan.

Mr Gilmartin told Mr Ahern’s lawyer Colm Ó hOisín SC: “I have no defence against the garbage your client and Mr O’Callaghan put out last week.”

He added: “I promised the tribunal I would pass on what I was told. I passed it on the tribunal in good faith. I have no regrets.”

He said he had made no allegations against Mr Ahern but had only repeated what he was told by Mr O’Callaghan.

Earlier, Mr Gilmartin apologised to Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin for mistakenly claiming he had received “a five-figure sum” from Owen O’Callaghan.

Pressed by Mr Martin’s lawyer Dr John Mahoney to fully apologise for his evidence, Mr Gilmartin said he had never made any allegation of corruption against Mr Martin.

Dr Mahoney said Mr O’Callaghan had stated he had given political donations of £6,200 over four years (1989-1993) to Mr Martin.

Tribunal lawyer Pat Quinn SC pointed out Mr O’Callaghan made a £5,000 contribution to Mr Martin in connection with the 1991 local elections.

A contribution was also given when Mr Martin was lord mayor of Cork for the Atlantic Pond Restoration Fund. Taken together they would give a five-figure sum.

Dr Mahoney said the contribution to the Atlantic Pond fund was a contribution to a civic project, not a donation to Mr Martin.