Nothing improper about Senate nomination, says McGennis

FORMER Fianna Fáil TD Marian McGennis yesterday rejected suggestion there was anything improper about her nomination to the Senate in February 1993 by former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds.

Before leaving the Mahon Tribunal she declared she hoped never to have to return. She said she understood Mr Reynolds made the appointment on the basis of her constituency work.

She pointed out the tribunal was inquiring into corrupt payments and wondered what this had to do with being questioned about her appointment to the Senate.

Nobody had ever accused her of seeking or receiving corrupt payments, and she objected to some of the questions put to her by the tribunal’s legal team.

Tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon explained it was necessary to hear her evidence on the matters raised, adding that because something was raised did not mean it was wrong.

Earlier Ms McGennis had admitted she did not tell an internal FF investigation about her biggest-ever donation — IR£5,000 from developer John Corcoran of the Green Property company.

Mr Corcoran, developer of the Blanchardstown Town Centre in west Dublin, handed Ms McGennis a bank draft to help her fight the 1991 local elections. Ms McGennis agreed the development became “the issue” of those elections.

Ms McGennis pointed out that she had taken the first opportunity to tell the tribunal about Mr Corcoran’s political contribution.

With regard to not telling the FF party in 2000 about the donation, she said she “didn’t feel it necessary” to disclose this donation as she understood that internal inquiry was focused on payments from lobbyist Frank Dunlop.

Ms McGennis said she received a IR£1,400 political donation from Mr Dunlop in connection with the 1991 local elections. He had paid for her 1992 general election printing and posters. Documents show Mr Dunlop raised invoices for these totalling IR£5,605.

She also admitted getting use of a mobile phone from the lobbyist in connection with that election, and of having use of it for three years. The bills went to Mr Dunlop’s office.

Tribunal lawyer Patricia Dillon SC reminded her that asked about her responses, in January 2000, to the tribunal’s inquiries, she said her memory would be sketchy because these events had taken place nine years previously.

She apologised for failing to tell the tribunal about a series of meetings she had had with Cork-based developer Owen O’Callaghan — who was behind the Quarryvale project — and Mr Dunlop.

When Ms Dillon said she had not disclosed that she had face-to-face meetings with Mr O’Callaghan and Mr Dunlop, Ms McGennis said that at no point had she tried to hide these meetings.