Mr George Redmond went to Mr James Gogarty's house and left a note saying that he wanted to see him. This occurred two days after an article in the Sunday Business Post, the tribunal was told.
Mr Gogarty said that before Mr Redmond called, in August 1997, he had not met him or had contact with him since June 1989.
Mr John Gallagher SC, for the tribunal, had asked if had met Mr Redmond on any occasion after June 1989. Mr Gogarty said that he did not meet him, but Mr Redmond had contacted him. He was ill in bed at the time. This was about August 12th, 1997.
He was in bed when there was a knock at the door. His wife, Anna, answered the door and told him that a man had called and was insisting on seeing him. His wife explained to the man that he (Mr Gogarty) was ill and could not see anybody. She said that the man was very persistent and had said he was a friend of Batt O'Shea (a building contractor Mr Gogarty had known for many years).
Mr Gogarty said his wife asked the man if he wanted to leave a message, which she would give to him. His wife produced a pad and the man wrote something to the effect that this was George and he was sorry he (Mr Gogarty) was sick and that he would like to speak to him. "I thought about it for a while and it struck me that it must be George Redmond," Mr Gogarty said.
A telephone number was written on the note. He checked and it was Mr Redmond's.
He noted the date and time and contacted Mr Kevin Neary, who was his solicitor at the time. He thought he sent the solicitor a copy of the note and told him he was worried. "It was out of the blue. I hadn't met George Redmond for over 10 years before that. Nearly 10 years," he said.
Mr Gallagher asked if he had been in contact by phone or letter with Mr Redmond. Mr Gogarty said that he had not. Mr Gallagher then asked him to look at a sheet of paper from a pad and identify it. Mr Gogarty said it was the original note. It stated: "George [and a telephone number], Jim, I would like to talk to you for a few minutes. Sorry you are unwell."
Mr Gogarty said that on the back, in his handwriting, was "7.30 p.m., Tuesday 12th August, 1997".
Mr Gallagher said: "I think this was two days after an extensive article in the Sunday Business Post by Frank Connolly. Is that correct?"
"Something like that. I think that might be correct, yes," Mr Gogarty said.
Asked if he had contacted Mr Redmond (after receiving the note) or spoken to him since, Mr Gogarty said: "Oh God, not at all, no."