Caldwell rejects he has not complied with Flood

Dublin solicitor, Mr John Caldwell, today rejected accusations that he had refused to comply with the orders of the Flood tribunal or that he had treated it in a cavalier manner.

Mr Caldwell previously failed to appear before tribunal and had only agreed to come after the matter of his non-appearance had been referred to the High Court.

During his testimony today Mr Caldwell was repeatedly asked why he had failed to comply properly with two order of discoveries relating to the offshore finances of builders Brennan and McGowan.

The former partner in Binchys solicitors said "it was never his intention to deny the tribunal any information it sought".

He said he felt his ability to comply with the orders was limited because the information requested had been given over by other parties and he thought the tribunal was satisfied.

However counsel for the tribunal Ms Patricia Dillon SC asked him: "Have you furnished even one document to the tribunal in compliance with the orders of discovery?"

To which he conceded: "In terms of myself, no"

Mr Caldwell claimed he had directed other parties to retrieve information requested by the tribunal and therefore he had indeed assisted the tribunal without seeming to.

He said he took the orders of the tribunal "very seriously" and would assist in any way possible. He undertook to submit a new affidavit to the tribunal in compliance with the orders of discoveries.

He also consented to a request by Justice Flood that he make himself available from time to time to the tribunal in its investigation.

Earlier Mr Caldwell said his recollection of the business deals involving builders Brennan and McGowan had improved because he had time to consult records and the transcript of the tribunal.

He confirmed that he had acted as a "transaction solicitor" in a number deals presently being investigated by the tribunal.