Gilmartin assured bank of ‘government support’

BUSINESSMAN Tom Gilmartin assured senior AIB bankers he had high-level Fianna Fáil government contacts when he successfully applied for a IR£8.5 million short-term loan to get his ambitious west Dublin Quarryvale project under way, the tribunal heard yesterday.

Former senior corporate banking manager Eddie Kay recalled: “On more than one occasion he said: ‘If I told all I know I could bring down the Government.’ But I didn’t take it seriously.”

Despite adverse newspaper comments about his plans, Mr Gilmartin “seemed determined to push ahead with his project come what may. He appeared unwilling to accommodate the views of others”.