FF TD seeks Mahon correction

Fianna Fáil TD Seán Fleming has denied he was aware of corrupt payments to the party’s former minister Padraig Flynn and has asked the Mahon tribunal to correct its final report.

Mr Fleming, Fianna Fáil's spokesman on public expenditure, said he did not know of a IR£50,000 payment from property developer Tom Gilmartin to Mr Flynn, who was found to be corrupt, during his time as the party's financial controller.

"There was no suggestion at any time at the tribunal or at public session that I was aware of Mr Flynn's involvement in this matter," he said.

In its final report, the Mahon tribunal stated that Mr Fleming, amongst others, had not contacted Mr Flynn about the payment at any time prior to the establishment of the inquiry.

The tribunal said it was noteworthy that Bertie Ahern had only contacted Mr Flynn when the matter was mentioned in the media but that other party members who had the same information had not raised it with him previously.

"No-one gave evidence suggesting that I had been told that the Gilmartin donation had been made to Padraig Flynn," Mr Fleming said.

He said that while the suggestion was most probably inadvertent, he would be writing to the tribunal to seek a correction as the contention had "significant consequences for me as a serving politician and chartered accountant".