Chairman reprimands witness for describing counsel as liar

The chief tribunal witness, Mr James Gogarty, robustly defended his earlier evidence yesterday, responding to Mr Brian Leonard SC that he (counsel) was "a liar".

Mr Leonard had sought to point out that Mr Gogarty's evidence was contradicted by that of Mr George Redmond, the former Dublin city and county manager.

Mr Gogarty said: "I am not going to question Mr Redmond's credibility, not at this stage. Jesus, I'd be in right trouble."

When Mr Leonard insisted that Mr Gogarty had made a particular statement up, Mr Gogarty replied: "Well, you are a liar, in your own language and in Allen's [Mr Colm Allen SC, counsel for Bovale Developments and Michael and Thomas Bailey] language."

Several times during the morning's evidence, Mr Justice Flood reprimanded Mr Gogarty for his accusations, in this instance reminding him that "you may not, under any circumstances, describe counsel as a liar".

On another occasion, Mr Gogarty told Mr Leonard: "You know feck all."

However, it was not just Mr Leonard who felt Mr Gogarty's criticism. Referring to company policy that Mr Gerry Downes keep Mr Redmond supplied with box-tickets for the Gaiety, Mr Gogarty said: "I am bloody sure he did and he drank half the bloody theatre, so he did, when he was doing it."

Later in the proceedings, Mr Leonard pointed out that "the company was not in any way being ripped off by Mr Downes, a person living a modest life on a modest salary".

Mr Gogarty replied: "I am not saying he was, but I am saying he was doing his bidding - Conroy's bidding - and Copsey [Mr Roger Copsey, a JMSE financial controller] said the man would do anything for a free drink or a free trip. I am not saying he was big time but that is what Copsey told me."

Concluding his cross-examination, Mr Leonard asked Mr Gogarty if he could "remember what Det Garda O'Malley said in November 1982?"

However, Mr John Gallagher SC, for the tribunal, immediately said the subject related "to Moneypoint" and Mr Justice Flood had ruled the subject out.

As Mr Justice Flood attempted to close the session, Mr Gogarty declared: "We will have it all, solicitors and all."

Mr Gogarty also criticised accountants and his former employers. " . . I was locked into a situation where there was a crowd over there [he indicated the gallery] and you wouldn't know if they were coming or going. They would bore a hole through an iron pot and solicitors as well . . ."

The tribunal continues today.