Mr James Gogarty's recollection of how he met Mr George Redmond differed from that of Mr Batt O'Shea, who says he introduced the two men, the Flood tribunal was told yesterday.
Mr O'Shea, who caused much amusement over the past three days with his colourful remarks, completed his evidence yesterday.
The 82-year-old former builder and developer was cross-examined by Mr Dan Herbert SC, for the Murphy Group, about his attempts in 1987 to get Mr Gogarty to buy four acres in Poppintree from his company, O'Shea and Shanahan.
Mr O'Shea said that during discussions Mr Gogarty asked if he could meet Mr Redmond. Asked if he had the impression that Mr Gogarty had any acquaintance with Mr Redmond, Mr O'Shea said he did not think so. "He'd hardly ask me to introduce him if he knew him."
Mr O'Shea said he arranged the meeting and took Mr Gogarty to meet Mr Redmond at his Dublin County Council office in O'Connell Street. He said he was quite certain they did not know each other.
Mr Gogarty and Mr Redmond talked to each other about roads and drains and he did not know what they were talking about. The meeting lasted about half an hour or less.
Mr Herbert said his recollection differed from that of Mr Gogarty. Mr Gogarty had told the tribunal that he had met Mr Redmond as far back as 1984. He also said that he met Mr Redmond through Mr Michael Bailey.
Mr O'Shea said Mr Gogarty had asked him to introduce them. Mr Bailey did not come into it.
Asked if he told Mr Joe Murphy snr that it was Mr Redmond who gave Mr O'Shea advice about offering Murphy land for a church to solve a problem at Martello, Mr O'Shea said he did not know whether he told Mr Murphy if it was Mr Redmond or not.
Mr Herbert said Mr Murphy had told the tribunal he had never heard of Mr Redmond. Mr O'Shea said it was quite possible Mr Murphy had not.
Mr Frank Callanan SC, for Mr Gogarty, cross-examining, asked if, as he was very friendly with Mr Murphy, he would have mentioned Mr Redmond's name to him.
Mr O'Shea replied: "Joe Murphy said `I believe you have a great friend in the (Dublin) Corporation' but I said nothing, I didn't give the name." He added that he did not know when that was.
Asked if he took it Mr Murphy was referring to Mr Redmond, Mr O'Shea said he did.
Mr Callanan said Mr Redmond in his first statement to the tribunal said that his first meeting with Mr Gogarty was in 1987 with Mr O'Shea and they had discussions over roads. Asked if he had had any conversation with Mr Redmond about the tribunal, Mr O'Shea said he had not.