Ray Burke,Story contradicted by Joe McGowan
The builder Joe McGowan has contradicted key evidence given by Ray Burke at the Flood Tribunal. Mr McGowan said that the offshore payments to Ray Burke were additional to donations from fundraising events. The inquiry also heard that a man claimed by Joe McGowan to be a fundraiser for Fianna Fail had no connection with the party.
Mr McGowan first told the Tribunal that the only money he gave to Ray Burke was raised at race meetings and dinners. However, when the Tribunal uncovered three large payments year later, he admitted that money had come from offshore companies. Ray Burke gave the same original evidence to the Tribunal, claiming that the money had come from fundraising events. The stories of the two men no longer match.
"Extraordinary coincidence"
Tribunal lawyers said that it was an "extraordinary coincidence" that they both gave the same original evidence, and Mr McGowan could not explain it. He has still insisted that these fundraising events did take place, but said the money raised was entirely separate to the offshore payments.
The Tribunal wants to establish where that money went, if Mr McGowan's story is true. If added to the offshore payments, it would make almost £250,000, but there is no sign of it in Ray Burke's accounts.
Mr McGowan claims that the money was channelled to Fianna Fáil and Ray Burke through now deceased businessman Ernest Ottiwell. Fianna Fail has said that Mr Ottiwell was never a fundraiser for the party and there is no record of any donations. In a letter to the Tribunal, the party's lawyers suggested that they re-direct their enquiries to Ray Burke.
