A SENIOR AIB banker has said he has no recollection of Luton-based developer Tom Gilmartin discussing tax designation for Quarryvale or Blanchardstown at meetings in Allied Irish Bank in the early 1990s.
Mr Gilmartin had told the tribunal the issues had been discussed and that Cork developer Owen O'Callaghan said he paid £30,000 to then minister for finance Bertie Ahern to block designation for the Blanchardstown shopping centre.
Michael O'Farrell, then senior manager at corporate AIB in Ballsbridge, said he did not remember tax designation for the Quarryvale development, now the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, being a "factor at all".
Tax designation would have brought significant financial benefits to the project including 100 per cent capital allowances and a rates holiday for tenants.
Mr Gilmartin had told the tribunal that during a meeting at the bank in 1992 or 1993, he had expressed concern that a rival development at Blanchardstown might be given designation. He said Mr O'Callaghan left the room and when he returned, said he "had it from the horse's mouth" that designation would not be given to Blanchardstown.
Mr Gilmartin had said Mr O'Callaghan told him he had paid Mr Ahern £30,000 to ensure it would not.
Mr O'Farrell told Pat Quinn SC, for the tribunal, that he did not recall any mention of "the horse's mouth" or Mr O'Callaghan leaving the room during a meeting.
Judge Gerald Keys asked if he had discussed tax designation with any of his colleagues. Mr O'Farrell said he didn't remember. He said he was dealing with 150 significant cases at the time and was "extremely busy". He took accurate notes at the time, he said, so that if he went "under a bus" anyone could pick up the file and understand the bank's position.
Judge Keys said other bank witnesses had been able to expand on recollections beyond their notes.
"The trend seems to be that outside of what's written down, you have no recollections, no memories at all, I just find it a bit puzzling," he said.
Judge Mary Faherty asked Mr O'Farrell about a file note of a phone call with Mr O'Callaghan he had made in March 1994. The note said he had raised designation with Mr O'Callaghan.
"He has indicated in political circles that he is not seeking designation for Quarryvale on the basis that same is not forthcoming for Blanchardstown either," the note stated. "He is happy that designation for Blanchardstown is not on the agenda." Judge Faherty asked Mr O'Farrell what he understood by that remark.
"That from his political contacts he was happy it was not on the agenda," Mr O'Farrell responded.
Notes from a bank meeting in May 1995, taken by Mr O'Callaghan's solicitor and business partner John Deane, said Mr Gilmartin had been very angry and had detailed a number of complaints, including that he was "subjected to political manoeuvrings, blackmailing and a campaign of dirty tricks such that he had lost everything".
