Mr Joseph Murphy jnr has begun defamation proceedings against the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern, the tribunal heard. The case follows remarks by Mr Ahern on RTE's Questions And Answers in autumn 1997.
Several months earlier Mr Ahern was sent by the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, to interview Mr Murphy in London about allegations that Mr Ray Burke had received money from Mr Murphy's company, JMSE.
Mr Murphy told Mr Dermot Ahern that JMSE had made no payment to Mr Burke and confirmed this at a second meeting in Dublin a week later. Mr Ahern reported back to the Taoiseach. It later emerged Mr Burke was paid £30,000.
News of the defamation action came when Mr Finbar Callanan SC, for Mr James Gogarty, sought access to legal documents in the case. He applied to Mr Justice Flood for 24 sets of documents, mainly internal Murphy group files.
Mr Callanan said it was "preposterous" for Mr Murphy jnr's lawyers to provide some documents on his movements in June 1989, the time of the meeting when money was paid to Mr Burke, but not every document.
Mr Justice Flood said he would consider the request. The tribunal adjourned until June 14th.
