Tom Gilmartin Claims early meeting dates
The property developer, Tom Gilmartin, has told the Mahon Tribinal that the former TD Liam Lawlor attempted to blackmail an English investment company who were trying to develop a shopping centre at Bachelors Walk in Dublin.
Mr Gilmartin said Mr Lawlor told Arlington executives he had been appointed by the Irish Government to take care of the project and that having him on board was the difference between it succeeding or not.
The developer claims Mr Lawlor asked for £100,000 and a 20% stake in the project on the Government's behalf.
Earlier, Mr Gilmartin claimed he was 'held to ransom by shadowy figures' during his bid to develop the shopping complex in question. He maintains the shadowy figures intervened to push up the price of properties he was trying to acquire in the Bachelors Walk area.
The developer also said an article in The Irish Times on the Bachelors Walk development in January 1988 sounded the death knell for the project.
Mr Gilmartin earlier contradicted evidence given by the Taoiseach to the Tribunal about the timing of their first meeting concerning the development. He said he met Bertie Ahern, then Minister for Labour, at department offices in Mespil Road in October 1987. He said Mr Ahern was one of the Ministers he was advised he had to meet to get the project off the ground.
Mr Gilmartin, acting for Arlington Securities, wanted to get tax incentives expanded to cover the whole site.
John Gallagher SC said Mr Ahern claims to have met Mr Gilmartin first in October 1988, first in his constituency office and then in his department office. Mr Gilmartin replied 'I can't account for Bertie Ahern's memory or lack of it.'
Mr Gilmartin has also contradicted former Environment Minister Pádraig Flynn over the timing of their first meeting. Mr Gilmartin claims he first met Mr Flynn in October 1987 while Mr Flynn says he did not come into contact with the developer until the end of 1988.
