Gilmartin got £1.34m for role in failed project

Property developer Mr Tom Gilmartin has revealed to the planning tribunal he was paid £1.34 million by a British company for his role in a Dublin project that was never built.

The development, which was abandoned before it got off the ground, was for a huge multi-storey shopping centre on a city block bounded by Bachelor's Walk, Liffey Street, Abbey Street and O'Connell Street. As well as scores of shops, the £100 million complex was to have a 3,000-space underground carpark and bus station.

Mr Gilmartin, who was originally from Co Sligo but had built up a substantial property business in Britain, told the tribunal he agreed a contract with Arlington Securities in 1987 to represent them in Ireland and make the necessary political contacts to ensure the project went ahead.

He was to be paid a total of £250,000 sterling to £100,000 initially and £50,000 each year for three years "in respect of future promotion and implementation of the scheme both in the marketplace and politically". He was also promised 20 per cent of all future profits from rental income.

His role was to lobby politicians and liaise with Dublin Corporation to ensure favourable tax designation and planning permission.

However, by February 1990 the project was foundering under what Mr Gilmartin claims was a combination of increasing demands from Fianna Fáil politicians for money and a hostile planning atmosphere.

He agreed a deal with Arlington where they would give him £1.2 million to buy him out of the scheme. They also paid him the £100,000 fee agreed in the original contract that had not been paid and £5,000 in expenses.

The remainder, a total of £35,000, was reimbursed in respect of money he had paid to Mr Liam Lawlor on behalf of Arlington over the course of ten months in 1988, the tribunal heard.

The tribunal said yesterday it would investigate whether the payments to Mr Lawlor were - as he claims - legitimate political contributions, consultancy fees or corrupt payments.