Burke begins evidence and may take four weeks

The former Fianna Fáil politician Mr Ray Burke is to begin his evidence to the Flood tribunal in relation to Century Radio today…

The former Fianna Fáil politician Mr Ray Burke is to begin his evidence to the Flood tribunal in relation to Century Radio today.

Mr Oliver Barry

The tribunal is investigating the payment to Mr Burke of £35,000 by Century's co-founder Mr Oliver Barry in May 1989.

This was four months after the Independent Radio and Television Commission awarded the national radio franchise to Century and four months before the station went on air.

Mr Burke's evidence is expected to last up to four weeks.

A Dublin solicitor Mr Oliver J. Conlon told the tribunal yesterday Mr Burke instructed him to set up a shelf company with investment powers in Jersey in 1984.

When asked by Mr Pat Hanratty SC, for the tribunal, if he had done any other work for Mr Burke, he said he had worked on two or three transactions on behalf of Mr Burke over a period of 20 years, ending in 1986.

He said the other work differed from what was being discussed.

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