Mahon report finds evidence of corruption against Flynn, Lawlor

The final report from the Mahon tribunal published today has found former European Commissioner Padraig Flynn to have "wrongfully and corruptly" sought money from developer Tom Gilmartin.

Judge Alan Mahon said the concept of senior government figures and ministers seeking financial contributions from businessmen, who were in turn lobbying government to support various commercial projects, was entirely inappropriate.

The practice "represented an abuse of political power and government authority", he said.

In wider investigations linked to planning scandals and developers, the tribunal said the Mayo politician had sought "a substantial donation" from Mr Gilmartin for the benefit of Fianna Fáil.

"Having been paid IR£50,000 by Mr Gilmartin for that purpose, (Mr Flynn) proceeded to utilise the money for his personal benefit," the tribunal rule.

The tribunal found Mr Gilmartin was acting under duress or coerced into make the donation and felt he had no choice in order to stop elected representatives obstructing his plan for a major shopping centre in west Dublin, now known as Liffey Valley and known as Quarryvale in the late 1980s.

Part of the IR£50,000 was used to buy a farm in Cloonanass, Co Mayo, in the name of Mr Flynn‘s wife Dorothy, the report said.

The tribunal also found evidence of corruption against the late Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor.

Mr Lawlor, who died in a car crash in Moscow in 2005, abused his role as an elected public representative "to a very significant degree", the report said.

It states he conducted a personal business in the course of which he corruptly sold his expertise, knowledge and influence as a councillor and as a TD for personal financial reward.

Mr Lawlor was branded corrupt for forcing payments out of developers looking to build around Bachelor’s Walk in Dublin city centre.

He claimed to be acting on behalf of the government and took IR£75,000 over 11 months from mid-1988.

The tribunal said it was satisfied that Mr Lawlor was paid £33,000 in sterling from UK property company Arlington Securities in April 1989 and the payment was not, as claimed by Lawlor, a political donation.

Mr Lawlor, who spent six weeks in jail for refusing to co-operate with the tribunal, was also found to have demanded a 20% stake in the Quarryvale project on two separate occasions.

The report said Mr Lawlor accompanied Mr Gilmartin to a May 1988 meeting with George Redmond, the former assistant Dublin city and county manager who was jailed for corruption but had his conviction quashed, and that in the course of the meeting requested payment of €100,000 for himself and similar amount for Mr Redmond.

The request was rejected by Mr Gilmartin and no money was paid to Mr Lawlor or Redmond by him.

The tribunal said it was satisfied that Mr Redmond was aware of the request for money made on his behalf by Mr Lawlor, and was complicit in this request.

"Such demands were corrupt having regard to Mr Lawlor's position as elected public representative," the report said.

The inquiry found that complaints made to An Garda Síochána by Mr Gilmartin about Mr Lawlor and also Mr Redmond, were not thoroughly investigated.

The report said Mr Lawlor‘s position as a TD was a factor in a decision not to interview him. And the inquiry also said it was puzzled that a garda report went so far to exonerate Mr Lawlor and Mr Redmond.

Separately, the tribunal said it was satisfied that Mr Gilmartin, following a meeting around February 1989 with Charles Haughey and a number of government ministers, was confronted by an unidentified individual who corruptly demanded payment of IR£5m

Mr Gilmartin was provided with details of offshore account into which money to be paid, the report said.

This corrupt demand was not acceded to.

READ THE FINAL MAHON REPORT HERE