TWO members of the Workers Party were expelled by Mr De Rossa in 1991 after he conducted an internal inquiry into a newspaper report that they were involved in criminal activities, he told the High Court yesterday.
He said a report in a Belfast newspaper, relating to the robbery of a truckload of alcohol, named three people who were charged.
He checked the party's membership files and found that one was a member of the party, one an associate and the third person had no connection with the party. He told the jury he made a verbal report to the party's ardcomhairle and two people were expelled.
He told the court that there had always been rumours and accusations that people in the party were involved in criminal activity. Most of it they put down to their political opponents having a go at them.
Northern Ireland was an unstable and violent society and in Belfast members of the Workers Party were cheek by jowl with their opponents. "Most of the rumours were dismissed as part and parcel of the nature of society in Northern Ireland."
The party did badly in the local elections in 1991 and at around the same time there was concern about rumours of criminal activity by members of the Workers' Party in Northern, Ireland.
"I made it clear that I would have no hand, act or part with, anybody who was involved with such activity. If there was any truth in the rumours, I would get to the bottom of it and anyone associated with it would be expelled," the Democratic Left leader said.
Mr De Rossa said he had transferred close to £250,000 to the Workers' Party from 1989 to 1992. Giving details of the party's financial situation, he said that in addition to being a TD, he became an MEP in 1989 and transferred his MEP's salary to the Workers' Party. After tax that amounted to about £1,000 a month, he said.
As party leader he also got an allowance of £100,000, which he transferred directly to the party.
"I did not even see the cheque." He also made contributions from his own Dail salary as did the other party TDs. Asked did he guarantee loans, he replied: "Yes, constantly".
The accumulated debt of the party, having fought so many elections, was covered by a lot of loans which were guaranteed by himself and other members of the Workers' Party. They carried the debt when they left and formed a new party.
He said it was not a Democratic Left debt but one they carried as individuals. "In my own case I only finished paying off the debt a few months ago." The financial situation of the Workers' Party was always "pretty grim", Mr De Rossa said.
In his own constituency there was a constant round of fundraising activities. They sold the party newspaper, held door to door collections, box collections and socials. Every local area was expected to fund itself and to contribute funds to head quarters.
There was a heavy subscription required of members who were working. Public representatives were expected to pay a proportion of their income to the party at head office and the amount depended on the person's circumstances and their domestic responsibilities.
Mr De Rossa told his counsel that there were general tensions in the party in 1991. He said that no matter what he tried to do to reform the party he was blocked. They decided to take the major step of trying to reconstitute the party and held a special conference in 1992.
He needed a two thirds majority to do this but only got 64 per cent losing by nine votes. "I felt at that point I would have to resign and did so. It was an extremely traumatic occasion. I was leaving a party I had been with since I was very young.
Mr De Rossa said 80 per cent of the membership of the Workers' Party resigned with him as did six of the seven TDs and 30 of 40 councillors around the country.
Within a month, they organised a conference to establish a anew party and 1,000 people turned up, of which about 60 per cent had no previous connection with the Workers' Party.