Gilmartin ‘wanted Lawlor involved in Bachelor’s Walk scheme’

The Mahon Tribunal has heard claims that it was property developer Tom Gilmartin’s idea to hire former Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor as a consultant on the proposed Bachelor’s Walk development in Dublin in the late 1980s.

Mr Gilmartin has previously told the tribunal that Mr Lawlor barged his way into the project and that he opposed the politician’s involvement.

However, in a statement delivered to the tribunal this week, the director of the British company behind the development said Mr Gilmartin actually suggested getting Mr Lawlor involved because the scheme needed political support.

In his statement to the inquiry, details of which were disclosed today, Ted Dadley, a director of Arlington Properties, also revealed that an article jeopardising the Bachelor’s Walk project appeared in the Irish Times just 48 hours after he refused to give a donation to Fianna Fáil.

Mr Dadley said former government minister Padraig Flynn asked for the donation at a Fianna Fáil fundraiser in London in 1989.

He said he contacted Mr Flynn later in the day and said the donation would not be possible.

Two days after that, Mr Dadley said, the Irish Times published an article revealing that Arlington was behind the purchase of land at Bachelor’s Walk.

He said this pushed up the price of the remaining land in the area and was one of the reasons why the development never got off the ground.