Gilmartin to resume evidence to Mahon Tribunal

Property developer Tom Gilmartin is due to resume his evidence to the Mahon Tribunal later today.

Mr Gilmartin told the tribunal yesterday how a shopping centre he was planning to develop on Bachelors Walk in Dublin never came to fruition because of corrupt politicians and officials.

The Sligo-born businessman said he faced repeated demands for money from such people while trying to secure planning permission for the development.

Over the next few days, Mr Gilmartin is expected to outline dealings he had with several politicians and officials, including Liam Lawlor, Padraig Flynn, George Redmond and others.

He is also expected to reveal details of a sensational allegation that he was asked to lodge £5m in an offshore bank account for Fianna Fáil in relation to his planned Quarryvale development in west Dublin.

Mr Gilmartin has claimed that the extortion demand was made by an unidentified man in the corridors of Leinster House just minutes after he had a meeting with several senior government ministers, including Charles Haughey, Ray Burke and Bertie Ahern. When he refused to make the payment, he was allegedly told he could "end up in the Liffey" for a statement like that.