Former arcade owner criticises Dunlop

Mr Jim Kennedy, the elusive businessman who is refusing to co-operate with the Flood tribunal, has described Mr Frank Dunlop as a "gangster" who "made millions" from other people.

But Mr Kennedy, who was tracked down by an RTÉ film-crew near his home on the Isle of Man, has refused to break his silence on the tribunal or on his numerous controversial business dealings. "I'll tell you nothing," he told Prime Time reporter Mr Kevin Rafter on a programme screened last night.

Asked if he had ever bribed councillors for their votes, he told Mr Rafter: "You've got some cheek, asking me that."

Mr Dunlop has told the tribunal that Mr Kennedy gave him over £20,000 which he used to bribe councillors in two attempts to rezone Mr Kennedy's land in Carrickmines in the 1990s.

Mr Kennedy described this allegation as "hearsay". "Go back to your old pal Frank - didn't he work for RTÉ?" Mr Kennedy told the reporter, describing the questions as "unconscionable". At one point, his wife Antoinette intervened, asking Mr Rafter: "Who put you in charge? Who are you?"

Ms Kennedy then sang the refrain of the Alison Krauss/Ronan Keating song: "You say it best/When you say nothing at all - now bugger off!"

Last night's programme examined Mr Kennedy's business career, which includes several company failures, extensive litigation and numerous deals with former Fianna Fáil TD Mr Liam Lawlor and the former assistant Dublin county manager Mr George Redmond.

One-time business associate, Limerick bookmaker Mr Malachy Skelly, recalled meeting Mr Redmond in Mr Kennedy's home. At some of these meetings, it was "inferred" that Mr Redmond had an interest in Mr Kennedy's arcade on Westmoreland Street in Dublin, he said.

The programme traced Mr Kennedy's career as a publican, builder, land speculator and amusement-arcade owner. Using money from a family inheritance in Abbeyleix, Co Laois, as seed capital, he went into the pub business in Dublin in the 1970s.

This part of his life featured a prosecution for selling falsely labelled drink, a series of unfortunate fires at three of his premises, and ultimately the liquidation of the company running his pubs.

As well as his €4 million mansion in the Isle of Man, Mr Kennedy owns a €400,000 apartment in Gibraltar. He has cited ill-health and a desire for privacy as the reasons for not talking to the tribunal.