Former Fianna Fáil minister Mr Pádraig Flynn accepts that he got £50,000 from property developer Mr Tom Gilmartin but says it was given for his own use to cover election expenses.
According to Mr John Gallagher SC, counsel for the tribunal, Mr Flynn has told the tribunal that he informed Mr Gilmartin there could be "no strings attached" to the contribution, and the developer accepted this. Mr Gilmartin says the money was intended for Fianna Fáil.
The tribunal yesterday heard from Mr Gallagher about Mr Gilmartin's attempt to develop land at Quarryvale in west Dublin and his contacts with Mr Flynn, who was minister for the environment, when these ran into difficulties.
Mr Gilmartin first identified the lands at Quarryvale in April 1988 and a month later he asked his bank manager to find someone who could help him assemble the site.
Much of the land that the developer wanted to buy was owned by Dublin County Council or Dublin Corporation.
He was introduced to garageowner Mr Brendan Fassnidge, who in turn introduced him to Mr Liam Lawlor. At the time, Mr Gilmartin was trying to develop a second site at Bachelor's Walk, and he says Mr Lawlor introduced himself as the person who was appointed by the government to take care of this.
Mr Lawlor accepts that he may have arranged a meeting between Mr Gilmartin and George Redmond, the assistant Dublin city and county manager. But he denies an allegation by Mr Gilmartin that he sought £100,000 for his help on Quarryvale or said Redmond would have to be looked after.
In February 1989, Dublin County Council and Dublin Corporation reached agreement on selling their land to Mr Gilmartin for £40,000 an acre. However, the same month, the developer says a planned meeting with Redmond was aborted by the official.
He told Mr Flynn that he believed Redmond and Mr Lawlor were behind a campaign to frustrate his developments.
Mr Gilmartin says the Minister said little, other than to suggest he make a "substantial contribution" to Fianna Fáil, as this might help to "curb" the activities of others. He decided not to do so.
However, as his difficulties persisted, Mr Gilmartin changed his mind. In June 1989, he said he went to Mr Flynn's office in the Custom House and told the politician he had decided to make a donation of £50,000 to Fianna Fáil. When he asked Mr Flynn who he should make the cheque out to, he was told to "just leave it there".
Mr Flynn has told the tribunal that he did receive a £50,000 cheque, but says he got it in Leinster House in May 1989. He initially thought it was for £5,000. Mr Gilmartin told him it would help with election expenses. He told the developer it was unnecessary and it neither could nor would bring any benefit for Mr Gilmartin. Mr Flynn says Mr Gilmartin did not want anything.
