The concert promoter, Oliver Barry, has admitted making a payment to former Minister Ray Burke in 1989. Mr Barry has arrived at the Flood Tribunal to answer questions about the payment. This afternoon the tribunal heard that lawyers had invoked compulsory powers to summons Mr Barry after he declined to make a voluntary statement. Tribunal lawyers have been outlining correspondence between the Tribunal and Mr Barry in which the payment to Mr Barry is admitted. The tribunal has heard that the payment was recorded in Mr Barry's documents as a donation of £35,000.
Oliver Barry will not now give evidence to the Flood Tribunal today. Counsel for Mr Barry, Colm Allen SC, objected to the manner in which Mr Barry was called before the tribunal and claimed it was irrelevant to this module. Mr Justice Feargus Flood has reserved judgement and will make a ruling in due course.
