Lawlor consultancy deal recalled

MAHON TRIBUNAL: A former Arlington executive has described how Mr Liam Lawlor gate-crashed a meeting he was having with developer Mr Tom Gilmartin and secured a consultancy agreement to provide help in "the corridors of power".

The evidence by Mr Ted Dadley, former chairman of Arlington Retail Developments, supports the account of the meeting in London that Mr Gilmartin has given to the tribunal. At the time, Arlington and Mr Gilmartin had a joint venture to develop a £100 million shopping centre at Bachelor's Walk.

Mr Dadley said he allowed Mr Lawlor into the May 1988 meeting because he was "intrigued and bemused" at the TD's uninvited arrival. Arlington agreed to employ him as a consultant because he felt it had "nothing to lose" and needed all the help it could get.

Mr Dadley yesterday described Mr Gilmartin as "absolutely, unquestionably" a straightforward, trustworthy and honourable man.

At the meeting with Mr Gilmartin, Mr Lawlor "put it over" that he was representing the Government, that he could help Arlington through "the corridors of power" and that a development of this size would need as much help as possible.

He said Mr Lawlor "definitely" brought up the question of money. He couldn't remember "100 per cent" if the TD asked for £100,000, as Mr Gilmartin has claimed, but he acknowledged that he was paid 10 monthly instalments of £3,500.

There was absolutely no question that these payments were political donations, as Mr Lawlor has claimed. Mr Lawlor's claim was "a load of rubbish - and I'm being polite". The payments stopped when it became abundantly clear that he couldn't help "in any way, shape or form".

Mr Dadley acknowledged that Mr Gilmartin was "a little upset" that Mr Lawlor had come along uninvited to his meeting. He agreed that Mr Gilmartin may have described the politician as a "hustler".

Mr John Gallagher SC, for the tribunal, asked what, if anything, Mr Lawlor had done for Arlington. Mr Dadley said "if anything" were probably the correct words. Mr Lawlor might have helped organise a meeting with CIÉ but ultimately he organised it himself. As for reports and other documents Mr Lawlor says he forwarded, the witness said he had never seen these.

He recalled Mr Lawlor meeting him at the airport and driving him to meet Mr Padraig Flynn. The TD drove a burgundy-coloured Mercedes 560 and Mr Dadley recalled thinking about how expensive it was and asking Mr Lawlor the price.

Mr Lawlor said he had spoken to Mr Dadley before the London meeting. Mr Dadley had suggested it might be "useful" for him to attend. He said it was outrageous for Mr Dadley to claim that the politician was representing the government when Arlington was already talking to the government.