Gilmartin calls Flynn 'absolutely honourable' and a man of 'integrity'

Mahon Tribunal: Former Fianna Fáil minister Mr Pádraig Flynn was "absolutely honourable" and never asked for favours, developer Mr Tom Gilmartin has told the Mahon tribunal.

Mr Gilmartin said that the politician performed his duties with integrity. At no time did he offer favours and at no time were they asked for.

He described Mr Flynn as "absolutely honourable" in all his agreements, despite the "blackening" of both their names in recent times.

However, Mr Gilmartin rejected an assertion by Mr Flynn's lawyers that the politician, when accepting a £50,000 payment from the developer in 1989, specifically stated that no obligation or favour could be involved. According to Mr Gilmartin, the then minister for the environment never said this on the day the payment was made. Mr Flynn was in a hurry.

It was correct to say that no promises were given and there were no strings attached to the payment, but he had complained to Mr Flynn about the difficulties he was facing on a number of occasions before the payment was made.

Mr Bernard Madden SC, for Mr Flynn, said his client's personal and ministerial diaries completely differed from Mr Gilmartin's evidence and recollection on when the £50,000 payment was made.

Mr Madden said his client was canvassing in Mayo in late May/early June 1989.

He lodged his nomination papers in the constituency on June 2nd, so he could not have been in Dublin to accept the payment on that day, as Mr Gilmartin had claimed.

Mr Gilmartin said he believed he paid the money to the minister in his office in the Custom House in the first week of June.

It should be possible to date the meeting from the date on the cheque.

Mr Gerry Rice, the minister's former private secretary, has told the tribunal he has no recollection of any meeting between Mr Flynn and Mr Gilmartin in the Custom House.

A meeting between the two men would have taken place in Leinster House.

However, in a statement to the tribunal, Mr Rice conceded that his recollection could be faulty.