An investment banker has testified to the Mahon Tribunal that developer Tom Gilmartin told him of a demand for a seven-figure sum from a politician in Leinster House.
Johnny Fortune, formerly with Irish Investment Bank, said he had come forward to corroborate Mr Gilmartin's testimony because of the rough time he was getting as a result of his tribunal evidence.
Tom Gilmartin has told the Mahon Tribunal that an unidentified man in Leinster House told him to pay £5m to get the go ahead for the Quarryvale development.
Mr Gilmartin said this followed a meeting with ministers which included then Taoiseach the late Charles Haughey in early 1989. And that he was brought to the meeting by the late Liam Lawlor.
Today, the former director of finance with IBI said Mr Gilmartin confirmed to him that a politician had demanded a seven-figure sum when he met him afterwards.
He said Mr Gilmartin used a good deal of expletives and Mr Fortune got the impression it was Mr Lawlor who had demanded the money.
Mr Fortune said he went to a solicitor with his claim in February 2004 because Mr Gilmartin was being portrayed as a malevolent fantasist.
That was not his recollection of Mr Gilmartin, whom he described as a straightforward and decent type.
Mr Fortune was recorded in a lawyer's memo as saying that Mr Gilmartin was ashen faced, the colour of white crockery when he told him of the demand for money.
Mr Fortune said he is not absolutely sure he said that but Mr Gilmartin was extremely angry and upset.
Former FG Cllr denies receiving Quarryvale bribe
A former Fine Gael councillor has denied he was offered £100,000 if he could 'deliver' the party's vote on Quarryvale.
Brian Fleming told the tribunal he was never even offered a bottle of whiskey for Quarryvale and said the allegation was a fabrication.
Former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes previously told the tribunal that councillor Peter Brady told him in the 1990s about the offer of money to Mr Fleming.
In evidence Mr Brady denied saying this to Mr Dukes.
