Murphy to complete evidence next week

The Flood tribunal is expected to complete hearing the evidence of Mr Joseph Murphy snr in Guernsey by early next week.

It is understood that the chairman, Mr Justice Flood, intends sitting over the weekend if necessary to ensure that Mr Murphy completes his evidence as soon as possible.

The 82-year-old multimillionaire gave evidence yesterday at a conference centre about one mile from his home in the island's capital, St Peter Port. The hearing is being held behind closed doors, after Mr Murphy's advisers argued that he could collapse or even die if journalists were present.

Because of his age and ill-health, Mr Murphy spends only a few hours a day in the witness-box. Legal wrangling last week delayed the start of his evidence to Thursday and he spent only four hours giving evidence during the week.

Sources said Mr Murphy was physically and mentally weak, but had been emphatic in rejecting the allegations made against him. Locals said he attended Mass in St Peter Port on Sunday.

The content of Mr Murphy's evidence will not be known until next week at the earliest, when transcripts of his evidence in Guernsey will be read into the tribunal record. However, lawyers for Mr Murphy and other parties could seek to prevent the publication of part or all of his evidence.

Mr Murphy is the subject of a number of allegations made by his former employee and right-hand man, Mr James Gogarty. The tribunal is investigating an alleged link between the sale of 700 acres of Murphy-owned lands in north Dublin in 1989 and the payment of £30,000 by Mr Murphy's company to the Fianna Fail minister, Mr Ray Burke. Mr Murphy says the payment was made without his knowledge.

When Mr Murphy's evidence has been dealt with, the former assistant Dublin city and county manager, Mr George Redmond, will be recalled to the witness-box in Dublin Castle.