Beverly Cooper Flynn denies meeting Co Meath farmer

The High Court has been told that a National Irish Bank employee who offered an offshore investment scheme to a Co Meath farmer was not Beverly Cooper Flynn.

The Mayo TD is denying ever meeting James Howard at his farm in Ardcath, Co Meath.

The Fianna Fail deputy is suing RTE for defamation arising out of broadcasts in the summer of 1998.

The court has been told that RTE broadcast an interview with a retired farmer in June 1998.

The farmer told RTE that he was approached by Beverly Cooper Flynn, who encouraged him to invest money in an offshore scheme, which would help him to avoid paying tax.

The retired farmer was later identified by the Sunday Independent as being James Howard, formerly of Ardcath but now living in Drogheda.

National Irish Bank said subsequently that Miss Cooper Flynn never approached James Howard.

However, a different female employee did canvas Mr Howard for business. In a follow up interview on RTE James Howard and his daughter Marina were 100% certain that the person who had approached them in 1993 was Beverly Flynn.