Former minister Mr Ray Burke has rejected allegations that he received bags of money in his Dublin County Council office. He said Mr Jim Geraghty, who made the allegations, was a failed politician and "vicious". "It quite simply never happened . . . It is quite incredible," Mr Burke said.
The idea of Mr Geraghty walking into his office and finding bags of money on the desk was impossible as he would have to go through his secretary's office first.
He said Mr Geraghty's allegations were a vicious demonstration of the grudge he held against him. "Mr Geraghty's viciousness, while it doesn't surprise me, disappoints me."
When asked if he was responsible for Mr Geraghty not being selected to stand in the general election in 1987, he replied: "I never had to do that for him. The people of north Co Dublin did that for him."
He added: "He is a rejected and failed politician who blames everyone but himself."
He said it was decided that three Fianna Fail politicians would stand for election in 1987. This was done on a geographical basis involving Mr Burke from Swords, Mr G.V. Wright from Malahide, and either Mr Geraghty or Mr Sean Gilbride from north Co Dublin. The Fianna Fail organisation chose not to give Mr Geraghty the nomination and he had nothing to do with that decision.
He said he first heard of the allegations against him in 1996. "It was so outrageous and so untrue. I couldn't believe anyone could be as evil as that," he said.
Earlier counsel for Mr Burke, Mr Aidan Walsh SC, told Mr Geraghty his evidence was "complete and utter nonsense".
Mr Justice Flood intervened and said counsel was not allowed to berate a witness. Mr Walsh could ask Mr Geraghty questions but could not put statements to him.
Mr Geraghty said he thought Mr Burke had something to do with his non-selection for the 1987 general election and while he was disappointed he did not hold a grudge against him.
When asked by Mr Walsh, Mr Geraghty said he never had "a run-in with gardai".
Mr Walsh referred to an incident in November 1987 in which 30 armed police raided his house in a search for the former INLA member, Dessie O'Hare. Mr Geraghty said he did not consider it an involvement with the Garda as they had told him afterwards they had raided the wrong house. "I have absolutely no sympathy with Dessie O'Hare," he said.
