Mr Tom Gilmartin accused a rival developer, Mr Owen O'Callaghan, of using a "diversionary tactic" to frustrate his efforts to develop a large shopping centre at Quarryvale in west Dublin, the tribunal has heard.
Mr Gilmartin claimed that Mr O'Callaghan ensured that "misinformation" was provided to the British revenue authorities about his (Mr Gilmartin's) tax affairs, which were subsequently investigated, according to the statement of former chief valuer of Dublin Corporation, Mr Michael McLoone.
At the time, Mr O'Callaghan owned a competing site near Quarryvale, although he eventually took over Mr Gilmartin's project. In his statement, Mr McLoone recalled extensive dealings with Mr Gilmartin in the late 1980s, when the developer was seeking to acquire land owned by the corporation in the Quarryvale area. Mr Gilmartin would complain about many things, but he couldn't say whether these complaints were justified.
Mr Gilmartin told him about Mr Lawlor's "unexpected" visit to the offices of Arlington Securities in London, according to Mr McLoone in his statement.
The developer also told him two county councillors had sought money from him. One of these was Mr Lawlor who, Mr Gilmartin had said, looked for £200,000 for himself and George Redmond. The other councillor, whose name Mr McLoone said he could not recall, sought £100,000.
Mr Gilmartin rang him "out of the blue" in 1998/99, perhaps because he wanted "a shoulder to cry on". The developer said more than £1 million had been embezzled from his bank account and that he had made allegations of fraud, collusion and conspiracy.
In evidence yesterday, Mr McLoone said the developer told him about his meeting with government ministers in Leinster House in February 1989 and an alleged £5 million extortion demand by an unidentified man outside this meeting.
He said Mr Gilmartin felt if he made a donation to Fianna Fáil this could "smooth the pathway" for him over the problems he was facing.
