Tribunal hears Burke helped builder duo

The Flood Tribunal has been told that former Minister Ray Burke rang the Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners in 1989 to query a tax bill on behalf of builders Brennan and McGowan.

The Tribunal was also told that builders Brennan and McGowan bought and sold land to and from companies they controlled.

The Tribunal heard further that there was a close relationship between builders Brennan and McGowan, and former minister Ray Burke.

Counsel for the Tribunal Patrick Hanratty said that in 1989, Messers Brennan and McGowan's company Bardon Estates had problems with the Revenue Commissioners, adding that Ray Burke rang the Commissioners' chairman on behalf of Bardon Estates.

Mr Hanratty continued by saying that the Tribunal hoped to establish why exactly Mr Burke engaged in such an action.

The Tribunal also heard that a Brennan and McGowan company sold land in Sandyford to another company, also controlled by the pair.

The Tribunal hopes to hear more about this in the next week or so.