The Flood Tribunal has heard that a draft of an unsworn statement made by the witness James Gogarty mentions the names of the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the former Taoiseach Charles Haughey. The names were allegedly mentioned during a meeting at which the procurement of land re-zoning was discussed. But the inquiry was also told that the names were omitted on legal advice from Mr Gogarty's sworn affidavit to the Tribunal.
In the statement, Mr Gogarty alleged that the builder Michael Bailey told him he was a major contributor to Charles Haughey and Ray Burke who controlled the Fianna Fáil vote on Dublin County Council and that they had a very good lieutenant in Bertie Ahern. The comment was allegedly made during a meeting at which the procurement of rezoning for lands in North Dublin was discussed.
However counsel for the Bailey Brothers, Colm Allen pointed out that neither Mr Haughey nor Mr Ahern’s name was included in the Mr Gogarty's sworn affidavit or in his oral evidence. He said this was because it was a deliberate and vicious lie. Mr Gogarty rejected that he was a liar.
