Gogarty complains of no contact with Ahern on Burke

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, was criticised at the tribunal yesterday for "going up trees in north Dublin" and sending an emissary to London but making no effort to speak to Mr James Gogarty when he was assessing the suitability of Mr Ray Burke for a Cabinet position in 1997.

While Mr Ahern had known about the controversy in relation to Mr Burke, and had sent Mr Dermot Ahern to London to interview Mr Joe Murphy jnr, Mr Gogarty yesterday told the tribunal that he had no approaches from Mr Ahern.

"Burke could go into the Dail and slander me and tell lies, and Bertie Ahern and Dermot Ahern could hold kangaroo courts on me," said Mr Gogarty, who was then reprimanded by Mr Justice Flood for being abusive but continued: "Sorry, My Lord, they didn't come to me, they went up the trees in north Dublin but they didn't come to me."

Mr Gogarty claimed that he had produced evidence of Mr Burke's alleged corruption and fraud and intimidation on the part of the Murphy group to his local Labour TD, Mr Tommy Broughan.

However, he would not allow Mr Broughan to copy the evidence and bring a copy to Mr Dick Spring, then Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, then deputy leader, Mr Fergus Finlay, Labour party adviser, or Mr Brendan Howlin, who was minister for the environment, because he was afraid that having such material might put Mr Broughan's safety at risk.

So concerned was Mr Gogarty with his and Mr Broughan's safety that when he discussed the evidence with Mr Broughan in 1987, he warned the deputy not to stand near the window.

Mr Anthony Harris, solicitor, for Mr George Redmond, suggested in cross-examination that Mr Gogarty had sought and failed to secure immunity from the Sunday Times for any libel action arising out of what he would say, and that he had also sought Garda immunity from prosecution if he came out with his evidence.

Mr Harris wondered if Mr Gogarty had a media adviser when he requested that an oral question be asked in the Dail, as a "friendly reporter" could be on hand to report the proceedings, with Dail privilege being afforded to the reporter.

Mr Harris also suggested that Mr Gogarty's account of a payment to Mr Redmond was incorrect. Mr Harris pointed out that in a recent statement to the Flood tribunal Mr Redmond said he met Mr Gogarty in his office in relation to Murphy group lands at Forest Road. "He subsequently met Mr Bailey and became aware that Mr Bailey wanted to purchase land and contacted you because he was going to put you together.

"He says he rang you because he wanted to know who the agents were and you told him you were dealing with the land yourself." Mr Gogarty replied that this was a "bloody lie".

Mr Harris insisted that Mr Redmond said he met Mr Gogarty at Clontarf Castle, where he introduced Mr Bailey and left. Mr Gogarty replied that this was "bullshit".

Mr Harris went on: "He says that whatever profitable enterprise you and Mr Bailey engaged in, you subsequently contacted him and asked him to meet you again in Clontarf Castle, at which time you gave him £25,000."

"Sure isn't he the essence of a liar," Mr Gogarty said.

Mr Harris repeated that Mr Redmond would say that the money was paid as a finder's fee, for providing a purchaser for the lands.

"I refute that completely but what can you say to a man like that? He is operating as city manager, auctioneer, casino runner, the whole bloody lot," Mr Gogarty concluded.