A farmer told the High Court yesterday he agreed to accept a £45,000 "under-the-counter" lump sum in part-payment for more than seven acres of land near an underground cave in Co Clare where the world's largest stalactite was discovered in 1952.
Mr Patrick Woods, a farmer and agricultural contractor, of Ballygreen, Doolin, Co Clare, said that when the prospective purchasers were eventually unable to come up with the money, they had turned their back on him.
Mr Woods said he did not proceed with the deal.
Yesterday was the fourth day of an action in which Mr John and Mrs Helen Browne, restaurant owners, of Broadford, Doolin, are claiming that Mr Woods failed to complete a £25,000 deal for the sale of 7.3 acres which they say would have given them access to the cave and on which they planned to build a car-park and restaurant.
The proposed £500,000 to £600,000 project to develop the cave involved a grant of £120,000 from the LEADER fund. The cave contains a 23 ft stalactite which was first discovered by a caver in 1952.
It is 150 feet underground.
Mr Woods said the agreement was unenforceable as it was intended to deceive the Revenue Commissioners.
He said he originally asked for £100,000 for the land but eventually agreed to sell it to the Brownes for £70,000, with £45,000 of this being an under-the-counter payment as suggested by Mrs Helen Browne.
All he got from the Brownes was a £10,000 down payment, Mr Woods said. The hearing continues on Tuesday before Mr Justice McCracken.