Quarryvale hearings to resume in April

Owen O'Callaghan v Mahon tribunal case:The Mahon tribunal is to resume public hearings at the end of April into the controversial rezoning of land at Quarryvale in west Dublin, in which Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will be a witness.

The tribunal last night announced that it would be recommencing hearings into the Quarryvale Two module on April 30th, just weeks before the anticipated date of the general election.

The move follows the decision of the Supreme Court yesterday to dismiss a legal challenge brought against the tribunal by Cork property developer Owen O'Callaghan.

The tribunal had started public hearings into the Quarryvale rezoning in November 2005, however the process concluded after a few days on foot of legal action started by Mr O'Callaghan.

In an opening statement at the beginning of its investigations into Quarryvale last year, the tribunal said developer Tom Gilmartin claimed Mr O'Callaghan informed him that nearly £80,000 had been paid to Mr Ahern.

In the statement read out prior to the court challenge the tribunal quoted Mr Gilmartin as saying he was told that the money had been paid in two separate amounts, of £50,000 and £30,000.

Mr Gilmartin said he was informed that Mr Ahern, who was minister for finance at the time, had been instrumental in blocking a tax break for a rival shopping centre being developed in Blanchardstown.

Mr Ahern and Mr O'Callaghan have denied this allegation. Mr Ahern reminded the tribunal that he had successfully taken a libel action in relation to earlier claims that he had received money on behalf of Mr O'Callaghan.

Informed sources said yesterday that the O'Callaghan case was the only legal impediment to the resumption of the Quarryvale hearings.

Hazel Lawlor, widow of the late Fianna Fáil politician Liam Lawlor, has initiated a separate legal action against the tribunal. However, sources said that there is no legal bar on the restart of the Quarryvale hearing as a result of this action.

No list of witnesses for the hearing has yet been published by the tribunal and it is unclear whether the Taoiseach will be called to give evidence before the general election.

It is expected that the new hearings at the end of April would begin with a revised opening statement by the tribunal.

It has already stated that public hearings will be discontinued for a two-week period prior to polling day.

Some 80 witnesses are expected to give evidence in the Quarryvale Two module, which will be one of the most complex to date.