Gilmartin recounts details of payments to Lawlor

Property developer Tom Gilmartin has told the Mahon Tribunal that Liam Lawlor was paid £3,500 per month in consultancy fees by the company behind a planned development in Dublin despite having no input into the scheme.

Mr Gilmartin said he made the payments on behalf of the British firm Arlington. He said the owners of the firm hired Mr Lawlor against his advice. He said Mr Lawlor convinced the company that they had to have him on board, but he himself didn’t see what role the politician could play.

Mr Gilmartin said, as far as he was aware, Mr Lawlor had no input into the planned development at Bachelor’s Walk in Dublin and he believed the former Fianna Fáil TD was merely trying to screw money out of Arlington.

He also told the tribunal about a phone call he received from Mr Lawlor in June 1988 demanding the first of the £3,500 payments. Mr Gilmartin said the Mr Lawlor asked for the payee line on the cheque to be left blank. The tribunal heard that the money was lodged days later to the account of a company owned by Mr Lawlor.

Mr Gilmartin also told the tribunal that Mr Lawlor demanded £10,000 from his (Mr Gilmartin’s) bank account without his authorisation. He said Mr Lawlor presented himself at the bank and demanded the money, claiming the property developer had authorised the payment.

Mr Gilmartin said that, from then on, he refused to pay any more "fees" to the politician and told Arlington it could make the payments itself if it so wished. He said he wouldn’t tolerate being hounded for money in such a way. The tribunal heard that the company did continue giving money to Mr Lawlor after this happened.

Mr Gilmartin later outlined how Mr Lawlor also demanded a £100,000 payment in relation to the Quarryvale development he was planning in west Dublin. He said Mr Lawlor made the demand during a meeting at council offices on Dublin’s O’Connell Street.

Former assistant Dublin city and county manager George Redmond, who is currently serving a prison sentence for corruption, was also present.

Mr Gilmartin said Mr Lawlor told him he would have to pay him £100,000 to advance the Quarryvale proposals and that he would also have to make a payment to Mr Redmond.