Century Radio went out of its way to "spread its political image" by employing people with non-Fianna Fail links, the Flood tribunal has heard.
The co-founder of Century, Mr Oliver Barry, said the promoters went out of their way to make sure the station was not seen as "Radio Fianna Fail". His proposal to employ the Government press secretary, Mr P.J. Mara, in 1990 would not have contributed to this image in any way.
However, Mr Gabriel Gavigan, for Century's other cofounder, Mr James Stafford, said his client felt that if Mr Mara were appointed as an adviser to Century, the station would become "synonymous" with Fianna Fail.
Mr Barry said he totally disagreed with this.
Mr Gavigan said his client rejected Mr Barry's contention that Mr Mara would benefit Century by "helping out" with its corporate image.
Mr Barry disagreed. "Mr Mara's image, his notoriety, his contacts would have been a major help" to the station. The station had "wasted" £600,000 in legal fees and in this context, the money he proposed to spend on Mr Mara would be a good investment.
Mr Barry told Mr Aidan Walsh SC, for Mr Ray Burke, that he made only one payment to Mr Burke.
He agreed with Mr Walsh that this payment, for £35,000 in May 1989, was a "no strings attached, bona-fide political donation".
Later, he told his counsel, Mr Fergal Kavanagh, he might have given Mr Burke a few hundred pounds during a previous election. He also supplied Mr Burke with canvassers and transport to get the voters out on polling day.
Aside from this, he gave about £12,000 in political donations to various politicians, primarily to those in Fianna Fail, during the 1989 election.
The witness accepted he may have erred in previous evidence regarding a payment he made to RTE transmission executives. Mr Barry previously said he handed over £5,000 in cash to two RTE staff. The money was a thank you for their help in setting up Century's transmission network.
An RTE executive, Mr Peter Brannigan, has given evidence that he got £1,600£1,700 from Mr Barry to organise a number of parties for the transmission staff involved in the work.
Yesterday, Mr Michael Staines, solicitor for a former RTE transmission executive, Mr John McGrath, said Mr Barry claimed Mr McGrath was present when the sum of money was handed over. However, Mr McGrath was in Yugoslavia on the day that Mr Barry withdrew the money for the RTE staff, Mr Staines said.
