Mahon to resume hearing Gilmartin evidence

The Mahon tribunal will this morning resume hearing testimony from Mr Tom Gilmartin, who yesterday accused senior Fianna Fáil…

The Mahon tribunal will this morning resume hearing testimony from Mr Tom Gilmartin, who yesterday accused senior Fianna Fáil politicians of lying over a meeting in Leinster House.

The Sligo-born businessman told the tribunal he was summoned to a meeting in February 1989 by Mr Liam Lawlor, who told him "the Boss" - who he took to mean the-then taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey - wanted to see him.

Mr Gilmartin was trying to get two separate multi-million pound shopping centres off the ground and said he had been lobbying Government ministers, including the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, for support.

He said the meeting was attended by Mr Haughey, Mr Ahern, Mr Seamus Brennan, Mr Pádraig Flynn, Mr Brian Lenihan, Mr Ray Burke, Mr Gerard Collins and Ms Mary O'Rourke.

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Ms O'Rourke is the only of these senior Fianna Fáil members to accept she was at this meeting.

Mr Gilmartin yesterday accused Mr Brennan and Mr Flynn of lying when they told the tribunal they did not attend any such meeting. He described a similar denial by Mr Burke as "totally inaccurate".

Mr Gilmartin also told the tribunal Mr Ahern was at the meeting in the Fianna Fáil offices in February 1989 and greeted the developer by saying "Hello, Tom" when he entered. He said he had already had three meetings with Mr Ahern by this time and was on first-name terms with the-then minister for labour.

In written statements in advance of his expected appearance at the hearings in coming weeks, Mr Ahern has told the tribunal he has no recollection of the meeting alleged by Mr Gilmartin.