Former Arlington executive begins evidence to Mahon Tribunal

A former executive with the British company behind Tom Gilmartin’s planned Bachelor’s Walk development in Dublin has begun giving evidence to the Mahon Tribunal.

Ted Dadley told the tribunal how former Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor turned up uninvited at a meeting of the Arlington Properties directors in London in May 1988.

He said the directors did not want to invite Mr Lawlor in, but did so out of courtesy because he said he was representing the Government.

Mr Dadley said Mr Lawlor told those attending the meeting that he could help them navigate the corridors of power in Ireland.

The directors subsequently decided to hire him as a consultant and paid him fees through Mr Gilmartin for a period of 10 months.

Mr Dadley said he did not know what services, if any, Mr Lawlor provided in return for the money, which was not a political donation.

He said Mr Gilmartin was upset about Mr Lawlor’s involvement and added that, although his memory of the time was patchy, it was quite likely that Mr Gilmartin’s version of events was true.