The main witness at the planning tribunal, Mr James Gogarty, faces the prospect of the long-promised "big ambush" by hostile lawyers when he begins his cross-examination in Dublin Castle today.
Lawyers representing the former minister for foreign affairs, Mr Ray Burke, and those representing two builders are expected to focus on gaps and discrepancies in Mr Gogarty's allegations, as well as introducing new evidence which is intended to challenge the credibility of the witness.
With the tribunal chairman, Mr Justice Flood, having ruled that Mr Gogarty can consult with his lawyers if the latter occurs, counsel on both sides were predicting a hard-fought and possibly bitter cross-examination.
Mr Gogarty's cross-examination is expected to last at least two weeks, according to one legal source, though others were predicting it would take longer because of Mr Justice Flood's ruling.
If the witness opts to consult with his counsel regularly, his cross-examination is likely to be interrupted by frequent breaks. Already, because of his advanced age and poor health, the tribunal will sit only in the mornings.
The start of Mr Gogarty's cross-examination is likely to be delayed by legal submissions on a number of outstanding issues. The tribunal is expected to hear an application by lawyers for a former JMSE executive, Mr Marcus Sweeney, to be discharged. Mr Sweeney's name has arisen only peripherally in evidence.
The order of cross-examination has yet to be determined. Mr Garrett Cooney SC, for Joseph Murphy Structural Engineering, is likely to go first. Mr Cooney has accused Mr Gogarty, who worked for JMSE for almost 20 years, of engaging in a "frolic" of his own when at least £30,000 was paid to Mr Burke in June 1989.
Mr Colm Allen SC, for Mr Michael Bailey and Mr Thomas Bailey, as the next most interested party, may then cross-examine the witness.
However, lawyers for Mr Gerard Downes, a former director of JMSE, have asked that they be allowed to conduct their questioning immediately following Mr Cooney. They would then withdraw from the tribunal.
The tribunal adjourned last Tuesday week when Mr Gogarty completed his evidence after 13 days in the witness box. Mr Justice Flood ruled that the witness be "rested on grass" for a few days to give him a break.
In the meanwhile, the various legal teams have attempted to resolve some outstanding issues regarding the discovery of documents. The tribunal has also met in private to rule on access to the records of Mr Michael Bailey and Mr Thomas Bailey at the Anglo Irish Bank.
Mr Frank Callanan SC, for Mr Gogarty, said last week that the cross-examination should not examine until he was given the opportunity to see the Anglo Irish Bank documents.