Gilmartin was being 'shafted', developer tells Mahon

A Dublin property developer has told the Mahon tribunal he believes Mr Tom Gilmartin was being "shafted" in his attempts to build two shopping centres in the early 1990s.

Mr Colm Scallon, the brother-in-law of Munster MEP Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon, said he first met Mr Gilmartin after he received an "unsolicited" phonecall from him in early 1990. He said Mr Gilmartin got his telephone number from a mutual acquaintance, "a sister in a religious order in Luton".

Mr Scallon said he went to meet met the Sligo-born developer in his office on St Stephen's Green. He said Mr Gilmartin told him, over the course of an hour and a half, that he was experiencing serious difficulties getting zoning and planning for his projects in Quarryvale and Arlington.

Mr Scallon told the tribunal Mr Gilmartin was particularly "annoyed" at the interference of Mr Liam Lawlor. He said Mr Gilmartin told him about the former Dublin West TD storming into a meeting of Arlington Developments in London. "Mr Gilmartin was furious at the invasion," the tribunal heard.

He said Mr Gilmartin told him Mr Lawlor was eventually paid £3,500 a month by Arlington for consultancy fees.

Mr Scallon said he had "a hell of a lot of respect" for Mr Gilmartin, describing him as a "man who did things". He employed 450 - mostly Irish - people in England and was trying to do some good in Ireland. He was promising to create 25,000 jobs, but was being hampered in his efforts. "He was being shafted all over the place," Mr Scallon said.

"The more I talked to him, the more I realised I wasn't the man to help him," Mr Scallon said. He suggested that Mr Gilmartin talk to Mr Sean Sherwin, the National Organiser of Fianna Fáil, who may be able to help him.

They walked together to Mr Sherwin's office, where Mr Gilmartin recounted the same story. Mr Gilmartin claims he told Mr Sherwin about having to give Fianna Fáil a £50,000 cheque. Mr Scallon said he had no recollection of money being mentioned.

The witness said he was sure Mr Sherwin "did his damnedest to help Mr Gilmartin". However, Mr Scallon said he did not know what Mr Sherwin actually did, not did he speak to him at a later date about Mr Gilmartin.

Mr Scallon told Judge Mary Faherty he was "not surprised" at Mr Gilmartin's problems. "The dogs in the street" knew what was going on. He also said he had been told in 1973 by builder Mr Joe Murphy - who arrived in Ireland with "a bundle of money" to invest - that he was giving up on this country "because you could get nothing done".