Flynn has 'no recollection' of Leinster House meeting

The former minister for the environment, Mr Pádraig Flynn, has "no recollection" of ever attending a meeting in Leinster House between senior Government ministers and builder Mr Tom Gilmartin.

The developer has alleged to the planning tribunal that he was summoned to the meeting on February 1st, 1989, by Mr Liam Lawlor. He said Mr Lawlor told him "the Boss" wanted to see him.

Mr Gilmartin claims this meeting was attended by the-then taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey; Mr Bertie Ahern; Mr Gerry Collins; the late Mr Brian Lenihan; Mr Albert Reynolds; Mr Seamus Brennan; Mr Ray Burke; Mrs Mary O'Rourke; and Mr Flynn,

The Sligo-born developer has claimed he was confronted by an unnamed man outside this meeting and subjected to a demand for £5 million to be paid into a bank account in the Isle of Man or otherwise his building projects in Dublin would collapse.

Mr Flynn said today he has "no recollection" of being at this meeting and denied testimony by Mrs O'Rourke that he had gone to her office and asked her to come and meet Mr Gilmartin.

Mr Flynn said his first contact with Mr Gilmartin came after the builder had written a letter to his department in October 1987 seeking a meeting with him. Mr Flynn said he met Mr Gilmartin and "a number of his friends" from British development firm Arlington Securities on November 4th, 1987.

He said Mr Gilmartin set out his plans to build a £100 million shopping centre on Dublin's Bachelor's Walk and described the difficulties he was facing due to the tax designation of the area.

Mr Flynn submitted draft proposals to the government in November 1987 seeking extensions on the time limits and tax designation of a number of developments around the country. He insisted the decision to change these rules was made long before he ever met Mr Gilmartin.

Mr Flynn said he had encouraged Mr Gilmartin's proposals to redevelop the River Liffey's north quays "in every way". If successful, the development would have created huge employment and prosperity, as well as "eradicating" a huge eyesore at Bachelor's Walk. "I'm sorry it didn't come off," Mr Flynn said.

He also denied ever asking Mr Liam Lawlor to "look after" Mr Gilmartin.

The first time he heard any complaints about George Redmond were when Mr Gilmartin said he was having "difficulties" with the lack of help he was receiving from the then assistant county manager.

"Mr Gilmartin did like to complain a lot. He was a very affable man, the meetings I had with him were always very pleasant," Mr Flynn said. "But he was in a hurry, he wanted things done quickly. I tried to explain to him about the inevitability of gradualness . . . about the slowness of local authority democracy."

Mr Gilmartin said Redmond was "frustrating his endeavours" and he was not being allowed to progress his development "because of interference".

Mr Flynn said he told Mr Haughey about Mr Gilmartin's complaints. Mr Haughey then contacted gardaí and asked them to include Mr Gilmartin's comments in their inquiry into allegations of corruption within the Dublin planning process.

Whether Redmond's conduct was criminal or not "was not a matter for me to judge," Mr Flynn said. He was not aware of any complaints of corruption against Mr Lawlor until he was told about them later by Dublin City and County Manager Mr Frank Feely.

In the light of all of these allegations of corruption, asked Ms Patricia Dillon, SC for the tribunal, did it not occur to the witness to make a record of the cheque for £50,000 he had received from Mr Gilmartin in May 1989?

"Mr Gilmartin gave me a political contribution. He did not ask for a receipt for it, if he had he would have got one," answered Mr Flynn.

But, asked Ms Dillon, did it never cross your mind in the light of what was going on, that you'd "better take care" taking this "monstrous, enormous amount of money" from a man who had made allegations of corruption against so many people?

"I didn't have to take care, I trusted Mr Gilmartin," Mr Flynn said.

Mr Flynn resumes his evidence in the morning.