Gilmartin to face cross-examination on tribunal claims

Property developer Tom Gilmartin is due back before the Mahon Tribunal today to face cross examination about his corruption allegations against the Taoiseach.

Mr Gilmartin is the main witness in the current phase of the inquiry, which focuses on the development of the Liffey Valley shopping centre in west Dublin in the 1990s.

He has told the tribunal that rival developer Owen O'Callaghan claimed to have paid Bertie Ahern IR£80,000 to advance the project.

However, both Mr Ahern and Mr O'Callaghan deny the allegation and Mr Ahern's barrister has already told the tribunal that Mr Gilmartin's evidence is outlandish, unfounded and unreliable.

Yesterday, the Sligo-born developer said he was asked for IR£500,000 by an associate of Mr Ahern in 1989 after he received help from the then Minister for Labour in relation to facilitating development at Quarryvale.