Property developer Mr Tom Gilmartin told the High Court yesterday he was asked for money by some politicians during his efforts to develop sites in Dublin. He also said that after he left a meeting with most of the Cabinet in Leinster House in 1989 a man approached him and asked him to deposit funds in an Isle of Man account.
When he realised the man was serious, Mr Gilmartin said he told him: "You know, you people make the so-and-so Mafia look like monks." After that contracts for land he was developing were interrupted and interfered with.
Giving evidence in the libel action by Fianna Fβil national organiser Mr Seβn Sherwin against the Sunday Independent, Mr Gilmartin said Mr Liam Lawlor TD invited him in 1988 to a meeting at Dublin County Council offices and introduced him to George Redmond.
He said Mr Lawlor told him, whether he liked it or not, he would have to have Mr Lawlor on board or his development at Quarryvale would never get off the ground. Mr Lawlor asked for £100,000 for his services and said George Redmond had to be taken care of. He said he did not give him any money.
Mr Gilmartin said that around June 1988 he told Mr Padraig Flynn, the then Minister for the Environment, he had decided to give the party a donation and wrote out a cheque for £50,000. He asked Mr Flynn who he should make it payable to and Mr Flynn said to leave it on the desk. Mr Gilmartin said a copy of that cheque was presented to him by the Flood tribunal. In the area left blank was the word "cash" and the sum had been taken from his account.
Mr Sherwin claims he was libelled in a Sunday Independent article of February 14th, 1999, which, he claims, meant he wrongfully solicited money from Mr Gilmartin for his sister-in-law, Mrs Catherine Sherwin, who stood as a candidate in local elections.
A native of Co Sligo, Mr Gilmartin said that in 1986 or 1987 he had started to put sites together at Bachelor's Walk and drew up plans. He agreed with Arlington Securities, London, to come into the project and they drew up a contract. He also put together about 110 acres in the Quarryvale area and showed his plans to Dublin Corporation and the Government, which was 100 per cent behind the projects because they were creating 20,000 jobs.
He said Liam Lawlor had told him Bachelor's Walk was in his domain and the Government had more or less seconded him to get it off the ground. Mr Lawlor had invited himself to a meeting in London involving Arlington and presented himself as acting on behalf of the Government.
Mr Lawlor later told him he had been taken on as a consultant at £3,500 a month. Mr Gilmartin said he told Mr Lawlor he was a "hustler" and had practically lied to justify himself. About the end of May 1988 Mr Lawlor introduced him to George Redmond. Mr Lawlor asked for £100,000 for his services on Quarryvale. He gave him the same response as before - to get lost.
Mr Gilmartin said he paid Mr Lawlor a consultancy fee of £3,500 a month in respect of the Bachelor's Walk site and was reimbursed by Arlington. In March or April 1989 the manager of a bank in Blanchardstown where he had an account phoned him and said Liam Lawlor was demanding £10,000 from the account. He told the manager to tell Mr Lawlor where to go. He phoned Arlington and said he was sacking Mr Lawlor.
After that he encountered "hellish" problems over the site, with general interference from council officers, Mr Lawlor and others. A councillor met him in Buswell's Hotel and claimed the Quarryvale project in his area was going to "damage the little people" and he would have to pay £100,000 for their support. The councillor wanted 50 per cent up front.
In February 1999 the then Taoiseach (Mr Haughey) sent for him and he met him. Ray Burke was there and Mr Lawlor introduced them. He met most of the Cabinet. The Taoiseach, Mr Lenihan, Mr Collins, Mr Flynn, Mr Ahern and Mr Brennan were around the table. Mrs O'Rourke took no part in the meeting but briefly came into the room.
As he went out, Mr Lawlor was talking with somebody. A man approached him and asked him for substantial funds to be deposited in the Isle of Man. After that, his problems started. A media campaign was started by Frank Dunlop, Fianna Fβil press secretary, and an anti-Tom Gilmartin campaign was carried on.
On one occasion, he had gone to a meeting, and Mr Redmond said there was no meeting. He then phoned one man he felt was honourable, the Taoiseach's brother, Sean Haughey. Mr Haughey reconvened the meeting and asked Mr Redmond what was going on. Mr Redmond said: "Ask your brother." Mr Haughey replied:"I'm not my brother's keeper" and also said: "This is going to stop, George."
Mr Gilmartin said he told Mr Flynn about the carry-on. Mr Flynn said if he considered giving a substantial donation to the party it might help. Mr Gilmartin thought £10,000 or £20,000 would be derisory and he paid over £50,000 around June 1989. He had £6million or £7 million at stake and Arlington had some £20 million. After all the interference, Arlington decided to pull out of the Bachelor's Walk project.
In 1990 he met Colm Scallon, an honourable and religious man. Mr Scallon said what had happened was outrageous and told him not to pull out. Mr Scallon said he had a friend in Fianna Fβil. They went to Fianna Fβil offices in Mount Street and Mr Scallon said he was going to meet Mr Sherwin.
The hearing continues on Tuesday.