Mr Liam Lawlor still has not provided the Flood tribunal with the documents it seeks, the High Court was told yesterday.
A deadline of March 30th was set for the Dublin West TD to submit various financial records to tribunal lawyers. The deadline was fixed on January 15th when Mr Justice Smyth jailed Mr Lawlor for seven days and fined him £10,000 - plus costs estimated at close to £200,000 - for failing to co-operate with the tribunal. On that date, the judge imposed a sentence of three months but suspended all but seven days on conditions.
After being told during a brief hearing yesterday, attended by Mr Lawlor, that certain documents were still outstanding, the judge set a final date of May 15th for the process to be completed, saying time was of the essence.
Counsel for the tribunal earlier told the court it had received a letter from solicitors for Mr Lawlor stating they had delivered, since March 15th, 17 affidavits exhibiting 17 folders of documentation to the tribunal.
The solicitors' letter said they were satisfied there remained other documents which, while not actually in Mr Lawlor's possession, were in his power or procurement. To the best of their knowledge, those documents related to Liechtenstein Bank, the Czech Republic, the Bank of Ireland and Revenue Commissioners sources.
Although the judge's January order required a final affidavit of discovery to be filed by last Friday, it had actually proved impossible to do so, despite best efforts, the letter added, and there remained outstanding documentation in the possession of third parties. For that reason, they were seeking forbearance for some while longer.
Counsel for the tribunal told the judge he had no difficulty in the matter being put back to the middle of the next law term. Counsel for Mr Lawlor said his side expected to have further documents.
Mr Justice Smyth said the non-compliance with the order was a serious matter. It was more serious because, having given the undertaking in another place, the recorded official debates of January 30th last, Mr Lawlor had said he hoped those issues would be dealt with at the tribunal and not in the Czech Republic and other places. That did not inspire great confidence.