Burke denies being told about claims of bribery

Mahon tribunal: A Fianna Fáil councillor sent by the Taoiseach to meet Mr Tom Gilmartin has denied hearing of any allegations of bribery from the developer.

Mr Joe Burke, who is a close friend of Mr Ahern, said Mr Gilmartin told him nothing about alleged demands for money from Mr Liam Lawlor and George Redmond when they met in 1989.

He was sent to see Mr Gilmartin after the developer complained to Mr Ahern, who was then minister for labour, of difficulties hindering his development of a large shopping centre at Quarryvale in west Dublin.

Mr Ahern, in his evidence to the tribunal, said he has no recollection of discussing Quarryvale with Mr Gilmartin, but accepts he advised him to contact Mr Burke.

However, Mr Burke told the tribunal yesterday that Mr Gilmartin's worry about being "shafted" in the tendering process for the land was "completely unfounded".

Mr Burke, who was a city councillor from 1985 to 1991, also said he did nothing to facilitate the sale of Dublin Corporation land to the developer. He said he did not have any function or involvement in the process that led to the sale of 68 acres of Corporation land at Quarryvale to Mr Gilmartin. He made no representations or interventions on the developer's behalf.

He did check on the progress of Mr Gilmartin's bid, and noted that the manager's recommendation was that the Corporation dispose of the land to the developer. The matter came up at the Corporation's planning committee, of which he was a member, and at the council, and was approved by both bodies without discussion.

He was aware of Mr Gilmartin's belief that he might be "gazumped". He knew the developer had previously agreed with Corporation officials to buy the land for less than half the amount he was now proposing to pay and that this agreement had been overturned when other developers became involved. Mr Gilmartin wanted to make sure there was no interference or "foul play".

Mr Burke said that while Mr Gilmartin might have had concerns about the tendering process, he did not have reason to worry. It was "correct and proper" and his bid was accepted because it was the highest.

Mr Burke said he was out with Mr Ahern socially some years later and mentioned that he had met Mr Gilmartin. Mr Ahern asked him why and he said he replied: "Because you asked me to." He denied being a senior figure in Fianna Fáil but said that he was in close contact with Mr Ahern, whom he could reach by mobile phone within 10 minutes.

Earlier, Mr Barry Boland, who worked as a project manager on the Bachelor's Walk scheme for the English company, Arlington Securities, said Mr Lawlor was made available to him as a consultant.

Mr Boland said he was under the strong impression that Mr Lawlor was being paid for his services, but this was organised through Arlington in London. He wasn't aware of any specific payments to Mr Lawlor.

He had no knowledge whatsoever of a payment of £33,000 sterling by Arlington to Mr Lawlor in April 1989. Asked when he had learned of this payment, he said "today".

Mr Boland said he contacted Mr Lawlor several times to obtain his help in lobbying for EU support for the project. The TD's advice was generally "sound and practical". When it was pointed out that Mr Lawlor had described the payments he received from Arlington as political donations, the witness said he could not comment on this.

He recalled attending a meeting with the minister for the environment Mr Pádraig Flynn along with Mr Ted Dadley of Arlington in late 1989.

At the meeting, Mr Flynn asked if he was aware of anyone "purporting" to represent the Irish government with Arlington. When he replied that he hadn't, Mr Flynn restated the question forcefully, he said.

When he again replied in the negative, Mr Flynn asked him to step outside. He re-entered the meeting after about 15 minutes. Afterwards, he asked Mr Dadley what had happened.

"Mr Dadley, in his inimitable fashion, said: 'You don't want to know'." Ms Patricia Dillon SC, for the tribunal, asked if Mr Flynn had identified the person in question. Was Mr Lawlor's name mentioned? Mr Boland said no name was mentioned.

Mr Lawlor, representing himself, said he had no consultancy arrangement with Arlington.