Gilmartin says cllr wanted cash for support

Property developer Tom Gilmartin has told the Mahon Tribunal that a former Fianna Fáil councillor asked him for £100,000 in exchange for his support for a planned shopping centre development.

Mr Gilmartin said Finbarr Hanrahan, a councillor in the Lucan area of Dublin, made the demand at a meeting in 1988 to discuss the developer’s planned Quarryvale scheme.

Mr Gilmartin said Mr Hanrahan’s name was on a list of people that former Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor told him would need to be on board for the project.

Mr Gilmartin said he arranged to meet Mr Hanrahan in Buswell’s Hotel, close to the Dáil, in late 1988.

He said Mr Lawlor and another property develop, Owen O’Callaghan, were also in the room at the time of the meeting.

Mr Gilmartin said he showed Mr Hanrahan his plans for the Quarryvale development in Lucan.

The councillor then allegedly said that the development would damage a number of friends who had supported him in the past.

Mr Gilmartin claimed Mr Hanrahan demanded £100,000 in exchange for his support, £50,000 of it up front.

The tribunal heard that Mr Hanrahan would deny this when he gives evidence later this year.