Mahon Tribunal: Developer Mr Jim Kennedy, former TD Mr Liam Lawlor, former assistant Dublin city and county manager Mr George Redmond and solicitor Mr John Caldwell attended frequent meetings above a Dublin amusement arcade, the Mahon tribunal was told yesterday, reports Christine Newman.
Mr Redmond and Mr Lawlor would arrive separately at the laneway at the back of the premises, ringing the bell of a six-inch steel door that also had a television link. When they made themselves known, they would be let in and go upstairs to Mr Kennedy's office, a former employee at the arcade, Mr Jude Campion, told the tribunal.
The meetings took place from early 1989 to 1990 and at the time Mr Lawlor had a 560 SEL Mercedes, one of only two in Dublin, and parked it in the laneway. The meetings would last for hours, Mr Campion said.
The four men are denying they ever met at the premises.
Mr Campion said he worked in Amusement City in Westmoreland Street from 1987 to 1990. Mr Kennedy was the owner.
Asked by Mr Desmond O'Neill SC, for the tribunal, how often Mr Redmond went, he replied: "He was coming in there all the time. Nearly every day for months and months he was in there."
Mr Lawlor attended about 50 per cent of the meetings with Mr Redmond. In 1990, Mr Caldwell would introduce himself at the cash desk in the arcade and come in that way, he said.
Mr Kennedy never told him the subject matter of the meetings, the witness said.
Mr Campion said at one time, "Jim Kennedy was clapping his hands, delighted with himself, and he said 'We've just sued the county council for £1.2 million'".
Mr Ian Finlay SC, for Mr Caldwell, cross-examining. referred to land Mr Campion and his late father wanted to buy at Coolmine for a fuel depot. The council did not transfer the land and after court proceedings the case was dismissed in the early 1990s.
When Mr Finlay asked if Mr Redmond was to blame for not getting the site, Mr Campion replied: "In one way it was like that. I went to the High Court against Dublin County Council and especially against George Redmond, who was putting all the stumbling blocks in the way of getting the site."
His solicitors in the case were Miley and Miley.
"One day I went up to the door of our solicitors and who was coming out of the door? George Redmond," Mr Campion said.
He asked Mr Stephen Miley about it, who told him he worked as a consultant with Mr Redmond for the council, he said.
Mr Finlay said Mr Miley would say he was appointed receiver for the council on behalf of a client. Mr Miley summoned Mr Redmond to the offices once in 1989 in that capacity.
Mr Campion said he took the arcade job as he wanted to get Mr Kennedy to change Mr Redmond's mind about the site.
Mr Kennedy had told him he would look after it and to leave it to him.
"Jim Kennedy asked me for £100,000 to give to George Redmond and 'you will get the site', that's what I was told," Mr Campion said.