Illness delays tribunal

Mahon tribunal:The Mahon tribunal has been adjourned due to the ill-health of current witness Thomas Gilmartin. The tribunal was told yesterday that the 72-year-old businessman was not in a position to give evidence because he was ill.

He had begun giving evidence to the tribunal on Tuesday, as part of the second Quarryvale module.

Mr Gilmartin had complained of a cold while on the stand on Wednesday morning. In the afternoon, his counsel, Jarlath Ryan, had sought an adjustment in his client's hours of attendance.

He told Judge Alan Mahon that Mr Gilmartin had recently undergone a quadruple heart bypass and needed to conserve his strength so that he could fully rebut the allegations made against him.

The judge agreed that Mr Gilmartin could take the stand from 10am to 1pm.

The tribunal is due to resume next Wednesday.