A financial consultant told a builder's daughter he knew people who could help her father get planning permission but that it would involve "back-handers", the High Court was told yesterday.
Earlier the financial consultant, Mr Roderick Brennan, denied that he had stated his political connections could ensure that planning permission could be obtained and that money might be needed to pay politicians.
Mr Brennan, of Ashbourne, Co Meath, and an engineer, Mr Ronald Bergin, Taney Road, Dundrum, Co Dublin, are suing a builder, Mr James Robert Farrell, of Kells, Co Meath, and Farrell Homes (Kells) Development Ltd.
During yesterday's hearing Mr Brennan said he had at one stage been a director of elections for Fianna Fail in Dublin North East. He said Mr Farrell had been a director of elections for Labour.
The plaintiffs are claiming damages for financial and planning services which they say they provided to Mr Farrell in relation to lands in Co Meath between 1991 and 1997. They are also seeking specific performance of agreements allegedly made between the sides. The defendants deny the claims.
In evidence yesterday Ms Tracey Farrell told Mr Brendan Gogarty, for the defendants, that about 1991-92, she was doing a course at a college being run by Mr Brennan in Dublin. During a conversation with Mr Brennan, she said her father was a builder and was having problems getting planning permission.
She said Mr Brennan told her he knew people who could help in getting planning permission and that it would involve back-handers. Mr Brennan asked that her father go and see him, which he did.
In cross-examination, Ms Farrell said that on the occasion they were "just talking" and she explained that her father was looking for planning permission and having difficulties.
When Mr Brennan said he knew friends who could help her father get planning permission but that it would involve getting back handers, she said she did not know if her father would do something like that. She told her father and he was not pleased about back-handers.
She said she did not know why the question about back-handers had not been put to Mr Brennan when he was in the witness box.
Earlier Mr Brennan, under cross-examination by Mr James Macken SC, for the defence, said that Mr Farrell's daughter had been attending a book-keeping course in a college of which he and Mr Bergin were directors. She later became an employee of his and worked as a secretary.
Asked if it had subsequently come up in conversation with Ms Farrell that Mr Farrell had problems getting planning permission, Mr Brennan said he was sure there would have been some general conversation along those lines.
Asked if he had said he had political contacts who could ensure that planning permission could be obtained, Mr Brennan said he never said that. He also "categorically refuted" the allegation that he had stated money might be needed to pay politicians.
Counsel asked about an unsigned letter to the then energy and communications minister, Mr Brian Cowen, in April 1994 on notepaper headed Fianna Fail, Dublin North East, and using an address of Mr Bergin in Stillorgan. Mr Brennan said he did not know if that letter had been sent by him. Asked why Mr Bergin's address was used, Mr Brennan said that was because it was in Dublin and he himself was in Meath.
Counsel said there were no documents to show that Mr Brennan made any representations in relation to rezoning Mr Farrell's lands at Balreask. Mr Brennan said he had gone to see council officials, the county manager and councillors at the time.
The hearing, before Ms Justice Carroll, is continuing.