Claim that counsel `objects to truth'

Mr Gogarty clashed with Mr Garrett Cooney SC, for the Murphys and the companies, when counsel made an objection during evidence…

Mr Gogarty clashed with Mr Garrett Cooney SC, for the Murphys and the companies, when counsel made an objection during evidence.

Mr Cooney objected to Mr Gogarty seeing a letter from Mr Michael Bailey to him (Mr Gogarty) at that stage.

Mr Gogarty said: "Sure, he is objecting all over the bloody place. He is, of course. He is objecting to the truth coming out." Mr John Gallagher SC, for the tribunal, said: "Please, Mr Gogarty."

Mr Gogarty: "Sorry, I must insist here. He [Mr Cooney] is objecting to the truth coming out. I came in here with warts and all and I told you about an affidavit that would fill you in on the whole bloody thing. He is objecting to that because he knows what's in it is dynamite."

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Mr Gallagher interrupted him again. Then Mr Gogarty said: "Give me a break too as well. Mr Cooney is a great man. They were all great men and his other friend over there, what do you call him, Mr Allen. They are all great men to discredit me and I will go to my grave before they will get away with it."

Mr Gallagher: "Mr Gogarty . . . "

Mr Gogarty: "That's all I'm saying."

Mr Gallagher said he would give him the letter in just a moment. Mr Gogarty asked if he was entitled to the letter and Mr Gallagher said he was.

"Well, give us the letter, for Christ's sake, and get on with it. And help me, help me out to help you people and the tribunal, that's all I want."

The chairman, Mr Justice Flood, said they should proceed on this matter in an orderly fashion. Mr Gogarty apologised for "all the disturbance".

Earlier, counsel for the other parties asked that there be no leading questions in relation to evidence.

The chairman said they had to wait for the evidence before they objected.

Mr Cooney: "I have been listening to Mr Gogarty for four days now, Mr Chairman. We know that it is his custom to go outside the ambits of the question which he is asked and to make a speech, usually an argumentative speech, the point of which also usually is to damage my clients. Now, he is prefacing an answer by saying he wants to make a number of points."

He said Mr Gogarty was not entitled to use the witness box to make speeches or to engage in a propaganda exercise.

Later, when Mr Gogarty was asked about the development potential of lands and how the zoning might be changed, he said: "I am trying to tell you all that but you won't listen to me about the truth."