Former JMSE executive Mr James Gogarty is "motivated by a single-minded pursuit of a personal vendetta" and cares "not a whit" what impact his allegations might have on the reputation of others, Mr Michael Bailey has alleged.
Mr Bailey told the Flood tribunal that many of Mr Gogarty's allegations were either "a figment" of his imagination or were "deliberate falsehoods".
Mr Bailey expressed his opinion of Mr Gogarty in a statement he submitted to the tribunal in January, but which was read into the record fully for the first time yesterday.
He insisted that Mr Gogarty was wrong to allege that he had arranged a meeting for him with Mr George Redmond in an office of Dublin County Council's administration building in May 1988.
Mr Bailey said his first encounter with Mr Redmond "was by chance in the Phoenix Park" in 1987 when both were out walking. They were introduced to each other by Mr Bailey's friend. He told Mr Redmond of his concern about Travellers on lands adjacent to his home in Mulhuddart.
A conversation followed about the building industry and Mr Bailey's interests in particular. "I do recall saying to Mr Redmond that if he became aware of any land which was available for acquisition that I would be pleased to know of same."
In early 1988, Mr Bailey recalled receiving a telephone call from Mr Redmond, who suggested that Mr Bailey should meet "a Mr James Gogarty". Mr Redmond attended a meeting at Clontarf Castle shortly afterwards to introduce Mr Bailey to Mr Gogarty and "then immediately left". Mr Bailey said Mr Gogarty's purpose in requesting the meeting was to make progress in disposing of lands at Forest Road, Swords, belonging to Grafton Construction. It was "entirely false to suggest that any meeting ever took place" involving Mr Bailey, Mr Redmond and Mr Joseph Murphy jnr.
Mr Gogarty's allegations to the effect that Mr Bailey "had discussions with Mr Burke and/or other persons in connection with the rezoning of land" were also "entirely false".
He said that around the time of the 1989 general election, Mr Gogarty had indicated "that the Murphy group was desirous of making a political contribution to the Fianna Fail party . . ." Mr Gogarty asked how "such a donation could best be effected".
"I suggested that a contribution to Mr Ray Burke on behalf of Fianna Fail would be appropriate . . . Mr Gogarty agreed with my suggestion."
Mr Gogarty never discussed with him the amount of the donation he would make "nor was there ever any discussion or indeed any question of my making a similar or any donation". He had no reason to believe Mr Gogarty had "an improper intent" in making a contribution.
Mr Bailey said he was and continued to be "a long-standing supporter of the Fianna Fail party".
It was a "gross injustice" to Mr Burke and himself to suggest that a conversation took place between Mr Burke and Mr Gogarty in which Mr Burke made it clear that he knew he was being effectively bribed.
