O’Callaghan associate says no money paid to Ahern

OWEN O’CALLAGHAN did not pay £30,000 to Bertie Ahern in connection with planning, an associate of the Cork developer told the Mahon tribunal.

Thu, 10 Jul, 2008 - 01:00

John Deane, who was involved with Mr O’Callaghan’s plans to develop the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre at Quarryvale in Dublin, said if any payment was made, as claimed by developer Tom Gilmartin, he would know about it.

“I am not aware of any payment by Mr O’Callaghan to Mr Ahern and I don’t believe any payment took place,” said Mr Deane.

Earlier, Mr O’Callaghan was pressed by tribunal counsel Patricia Dillon on the secrecy surrounding his dealings with lobbyist Frank Dunlop in relation to Quarryvale. It emerged that the longer it took to get a rezoning motion relating to the lands before Dublin County Council, the more Mr O’Callaghan agreed to pay Mr Dunlop. He arranged in February 1991 to pay Mr Dunlop £80,000 if the motion was taken in April and £100,000 if it took until May.

The motion was listed for a council meeting on April 26 but was twice adjourned so that a vote — which went in Mr O’Callaghan’s favour — was only taken on May 16.

Mr O’Callaghan said he did not arrange the adjournment and did not know why it happened.

The tribunal is investigating claims by Tom Gilmartin, an early partner of Mr O’Callaghan in the Quarryvale project, that Mr Dunlop bribed councillors to vote in favour of the rezoning. Mr O’Callaghan has denied sanctioning or knowing of any such bribes.

Ms Dillon asked Mr O’Callaghan why he did not reveal the arrangement for incremental payments before. “I didn’t think it was important,” he replied.

Ms Dillon said the nature of all payments was important given the claim that some were paid in bribes. Mr O’Callaghan agreed but said no issue had been made about this payment before.

Mr O’Callaghan was also asked to explain why he accepted invoices from Mr Dunlop via a company called Shefran, rather than his usual firm, Frank Dunlop & Associates.

He said it was to try to stop Tom Gilmartin finding out he had hired Mr Dunlop as Mr Gilmartin did not approve of Mr Dunlop. Asked if this was because Mr Gilmartin regarded Mr Dunlop as a “bagman for politicians” Mr O’Callaghan said he had not heard Mr Dunlop referred to this way.