Flynn faces questions about IR£50,000 donation

Former EU Commissioner Padraig Flynn has told the Mahon Tribunal that, if Tom Gilmartin had told him the money he gave him was actually for Fianna Fáil, it would have been returned to party headquarters by the next post.

Mr Flynn is being quizzed again today about a donation of IR£50,000 he received from the developer in 1989.

He claims the money was a "personal political donation", but Mr Gilmartin insists it was meant to be for Fianna Fáil.

Mr Flynn faced questions this morning about telephone conversations that took place between the two men in the late 1990s after news of the donation reached the newspapers.

Mr Flynn says he initiated the calls because he wanted to confirm with Mr Gilmartin that their memory of the donation was the same.

The former minister says Mr Gilmartin confirmed that the money was a personal donation, but Mr Gilmartin denies this is the case.

Mr Flynn told the tribunal that, if Mr Gilmartin had disagreed with his recollection of events during these phone conversations, he would have immediately forwarded the IR£50,000 to Fianna Fáil.