Gilmartin 'felt threatened' after cheque conversation

Mr Tom Gilmartin changed his evidence about a £50,000 donation to Mr Pádraig Flynn because he felt "threatened" after a conversation with an unnamed person, the planning tribunal heard today.

Mr Flynn claims the developer gave him the cheque in May 1989 as an unsolicited "no-strings-attached" political contribution towards his expenses fighting the general election.

However, Mr Gilmartin maintains he was asked for the money and only agreed because he believed it was intended for Fianna Fáil, not Mr Flynn. The former minister for the environment told the tribunal this afternoon Mr Gilmartin informed him in a number of telephone calls in September and October 1998 that he intended to change his story.

Mr Flynn said Mr Gilmartin told him an unnamed man contacted him prior to his giving evidence to the tribunal. Mr Flynn wrote this man's name on a piece of paper that was given to the tribunal chairman, Judge Alan Mahon. The name was not disclosed.

Mr Flynn said Mr Gilmartin was "quite distressed" as a result of "certain advice" given to him. This unnamed person had "put a certain scenario to him and Mr Gilmartin felt quite threatened and felt he had to alter his position".

Mr Liam Lawlor, cross-examining Mr Flynn, suggested Mr Gilmartin "changed his story because somebody came to the conclusion that the giver of the £50,000 donation . . . could be construed as making a bribe." The witness agreed.

Mr Flynn said Mr Gilmartin was advised "that if he persisted in saying that it was given to me for my  personal election camapigns, that it would be interpreted as a bribe".

Mr Lawlor said he and Mr Flynn, "unlike Mark Anthony at Caesar's funeral, we came not to praise [Mr Gilmartin] but to bury him and I think we have effectively done that."

"Mr Lawlor, that's a totally inappropriate comment," said Judge Mahon. The tribunal has now risen for the August recess and will resume hearings in September.