The property developer Mr Tom Gilmartin told the High Court yesterday he decided to co-operate with the Flood tribunal after the former government minister, Mr Pβdraig Flynn, had attempted to "demean" him and his wife on The Late Late Show and following media reports that he had bribed Mr Flynn and given money for favours.
Mr Gilmartin also said that, as he was leaving a meeting with Fianna Fβil's national organiser, Mr Sean Sherwin, Mr Sherwin had said his sister or sister-in-law was running in "my patch" in forthcoming elections and "could do with a bit of help".
He was giving evidence on the fifth day of the action by Mr Sherwin against the Sunday Independent alleging he was libelled in an article published on February 14th, 1999. He claims the article meant he wrongfully solicited money from Mr Gilmartin for his sister-in-law, Mrs Catherine Sherwin, who stood as a candidate in local elections.
Yesterday Mr Gilmartin said he went to FF headquarters with Mr Colm Scallon (a property consultant) in November 1990 and met Mr Sherwin. Mr Scallon said Mr Sherwin was "well up" in FF and Mr Gilmartin could trust him.
Asked by Mr Kevin Feeney SC, for the defence, whether he had had a second meeting with Mr Sherwin in relation to the matters discussed, Mr Gilmartin said he had not.
At the November 1990 meeting, Mr Sherwin had said he knew about Mr Gilmartin's scheme (for a development at Quarryvale) and thought it was quite good. He had told Mr Sherwin about the problems he had in relation to interference from politicians and others and said he was thinking of pulling out of the scheme. Mr Sherwin begged him not to.
He told Mr Sherwin that Mr Liam Lawlor had asked for substantial sums and wanted a 20 per cent stake in the deal. To Mr Gilmartin's recollection, Mr Sherwin had said he would pass it up to the "powers that be". He did not recall Mr Sherwin saying that Mr Gilmartin was in the wrong place or location.
After they discussed his plans, the question of the political problems was raised. Mr Sherwin said if any money "was going" could Mr Gilmartin see his way to give a donation to the party, Mr Gilmartin said. Mr Sherwin indicated that the party could do with funds.
Mr Gilmartin said he had said he had already made a donation to the party about 12 months before. Mr Sherwin said he had no recollection of that. Mr Gilmartin insisted he had given a donation to the party and had handed it to Mr Flynn, then party treasurer. He told Mr Sherwin the donation was £50,000. Mr Sherwin went into another room. When he returned, he said there was no record of Mr Gilmartin giving a donation to the party.
As he was leaving, Mr Sherwin had said his sister or sister-in-law - Mr Gilmartin could not catch which - was running in his [Mr Gilmartin's] "patch" in the forthcoming council election and she could do with "a bit of help". Mr Gilmartin said he understood "my patch" to refer to the Clondalkin area.
Mr Gilmartin said he just closed his suitcase and smiled and left with Mr Scallon. He said to Mr Scallon: "DΘjα vu." By that he meant the same again, looking for money.
Mr Gilmartin said he did nothing about that for 10 or 12 years when there were media reports that the Flood tribunal was trying to "get him on board" to give evidence. At that time, 1998, he refused to co-operate because he did not believe it was anything other than a "whitewash". His perception altered after the media carried a sometimes scurrilous campaign to blacken his name.
On The Late Late Show in 1998 Padraig Flynn had attempted to demean him and his wife and he thought it was about time he did something about it, Mr Gilmartin said. Until then, he had refused to co-operate with the Flood tribunal.
Mr Gilmartin said he told the Sunday Independent that he did not give Mr Flynn any money whatever. He gave a donation to Fianna Fail which was demanded from him on numerous occasions.
The hearing continues today.