I couldn’t afford air fare to attend AIB meeting, says Gilmartin

BUSINESSMAN Tom Gilmartin claimed he didn’t have the air fare when he said he would not be present for a scheduled board meeting concerning the west Dublin development at Quarryvale, the Mahon Tribunal heard yesterday.

Despite previous indications he would attend, Mr Gilmartin cited his personal financial plight for not travelling from his Luton base for the February 9, 1993 meeting in Bankcentre, Ballsbridge.

Allied Irish Bank offered to provide the price of the return fare, according to a file note recorded by Mary Basquille, an assistant manager in the bank’s commercial banking division.