Moriarty tribunal:A former executive of the Cement Roadstone Holdings (CRH) subsidiary Roadstone Dublin told the tribunal the late Des Traynor had no involvement in negotiations on the purchase of land at Glen Ding, Co Wicklow.
The tribunal is investigating the purchase of 145 acres for £1.25 million in December 1990 because Mr Traynor was at the time the non-executive chairman of CRH. He was also financial adviser to Charles Haughey, the then taoiseach.
Donal Dempsey, who was the financial director of Roadstone at the time of the deal and subsequently became its managing director, said Mr Traynor chaired the meeting of the CRH board's acquisitions committee that approved the deal, but otherwise had no involvement.
Responding to John Coughlan SC, for the tribunal, he said Mr Traynor would have first learned of the deal when he was given some documents prior to the meeting of the acquisitions committee. At that stage the deal had already been agreed with the Department of Energy, subject to approval by the CRH board and the minister for finance.
Mr Dempsey said he knew of no political assistance being sought for the deal, or of no political contribution being made in relation to the deal.
He said the evidence of earlier witness, businessman Brendan Johnston, that the price paid was "a steal", was absolutely ridiculous.
The tribunal adjourned until Tuesday next.