Brennan `threw away' all letters from his lawyers

Builder Mr Tom Brennan has told the Flood tribunal he hasn't kept a single item of correspondence with his lawyers and solicitors in more than 25 years in business.

Mr Pat Hanratty SC, for the tribunal, said Mr Brennan had not produced any documents from his own records. The only information provided came from the tribunal, in circumstances where he had to admit its existence.

Mr Brennan said he didn't keep files. He knew all about his dealings with advisers in his head.

Mr Hanratty said it wasn't evident from Mr Brennan's evidence over the past week that he carried around anything in his head. It was inconceivable that he could carry around in his head all his business dealings for the period 1974 to 1994.

The witness said he kept only a small filing cabinet, containing bloodstock documents. He would go to his solicitor's or accountant's office with their letters in his pocket and deal with problems as they arose. He threw away all the correspondence he received.

Mr Brennan said he didn't keep files in storage or on a computer. He didn't have a computer. His secretary in Kilnamanagh Estates, Ms Sheila Nolan, prepared letters on a typewriter and didn't generally keep copies.

He wrote very few letters. "I don't think I ever wrote a letter to a solicitor in my life."

Mr Hanratty: "So you have no correspondence with anyone about anything?"

Mr Brennan: "No, I don't".

Later, Mr Hanratty accused Mr Brennan of lying to the Revenue Commissioners in relation to the business dealings of one of his companies, Oak Park Developments. Counsel said Mr Brennan's accountant had told an inspector of taxes in 1988 that Oak Park had no interest in another company, Victa Investments. However, Mr Brennan, Mr McGowan and Mr John Finnegan were all beneficiaries of Victa.

Mr Brennan said he never lied because he was never asked the question directly.

Victa owned three acres of land in Donnybrook but went into liquidation. The land was sold and the proceeds went offshore to Jersey and the Isle of Man before ending up in the British Virgin Islands. Mr Hanratty asked where this sum of £1.1 million went.

When Mr Brennan said he didn't know, he was invited to think about it overnight.