Gilmartin finishes evidence to Mahon tribunal

Sligo-born developer Mr Tom Gilmartin finished giving evidence today to the Mahon tribunal.

According to the tribunal witness schedule, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ray Burke, is due to give evidence this afternoon. The tribunal resumed sitting this morning after the Easter break

At the last sitting, Mr Gilmartin told the tribunal he felt under pressure to pay off Fianna Fáil so they would "clean up what was going on in Dublin". He accused the party of demanding money in return for tackling corruption within its own ranks.

He said he eventually gave a £50,000 cheque to the-then minister for the environment, Mr Pádraig Flynn, at the suggestion of senior members of the party, including Mr Flynn and a number of other cabinet ministers.

He said he wanted to created "a level playing field" for his proposed development at Quarryvale and to get certain people, including former Fianna Fáil TD Mr Liam Lawlor, off his back.

Mr Burke is one of a number of senior cabinet members Mr Gilmartin says he met in a room in Leinster House in February 1989. Mr Burke is expected to say he never met Mr Gilmartin, contradicting another former minister, Mrs Mary O'Rourke, who has told the tribunal he was among the ministers who were there.

During his appearance in Dublin Castle earlier this month, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, conceded an "informal gathering" may have taken place between Mr Gilmartin and ministers in Mr Charles Haughey's cabinet, although he said he had no recollection of having attended.

Former minister of state Mr Ned O'Keeffe and former senator Mr Willie Farrell are also due to appear today, while the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, who Mr Gilmartin claims was at the meeting, is due to give evidence tomorrow.