Mr James Gogarty yesterday adamantly rejected a suggestion that what he had said about Mr Michael Bailey concerning the procurement of rezoning was "a deliberate, vicious, nasty lie".
The suggestion was made by Mr Colm Allen SC, for the Baileys and Bovale Ltd. He had asked Mr Gogarty about his direct evidence earlier at the tribunal relating to a meeting on June 8th, 1989.
Mr Allen quoted the transcript of Mr Gogarty's evidence: "He [Bailey] says that he could get them [Murphy lands] rezoned by procuring a majority in Dublin County Council to get them rezoned."
Counsel asked if it was Mr Gogarty's evidence that at the meeting Mr Bailey used the word "procuring".
"Umpteen times," Mr Gogarty said. He said Mr Bailey also said it in his letter as well, which summed up everything.
Mr Allen read again from the transcript, when Mr Gogarty was asked how rezoning could be achieved: "Through the help of politicians or councillors who could be influenced by Mr Ray Burke."
He had also said: "He [Bailey] went into great detail about how he would go about, that there was five or six councillors that could organise or maximise the votes of Dublin County Council and that he also was in a position to cross the political divide, they are the words he says, political divide, and that he could rely on close liaison with people in the county council including Mr [George] Redmond."
Mr Allen said this was Mr Gogarty fleshing out his evidence, so why did they get no reference whatever to Mr Charles Haughey and Mr Bertie Ahern (as mentioned in Mr Gogarty's draft statement)? Mr Gogarty said he did not know.
Mr Allen said: "I suggest to you that the reason we don't get it is that what you said and what you represented Mr Bailey as having said was a lie, a deliberate, vicious, nasty lie."
"And I reject your vicious allegation. I reject it completely," Mr Gogarty replied.
Later, in reply to a suggestion that he was traducing individuals with no regard for consequences, Mr Gogarty said: "And he is saying that I am traducing Charlie Haughey. Just go over to the other tribunal and you will find all of that."
The chairman: "That's enough."