At the Flood Tribunal, the businessman Dermot Desmond has denied that he told the directors of Century Radio that they owed the former Government Press Secretary, PJ Mara, £30,000. The claim was made by a former director of Century, James Stafford. Mr Stafford told the Tribunal that on several occasions in 1990 Mr Desmond suggested money was owed, but he never said why. Mr Desmond also says that he has no recollection of a meeting with the then Minister for Communications, Ray Burke, in the Minister's office in March 1989. The meeting is recorded in the Department diary. Dermot Desmond is the first witness to have appeared before both the Flood and the Moriarty Tribunals.
Last December and again in July, Dermot Desmond came before the Moriarty Tribunal to explain his relationship with the Haughey family. This morning it was the Flood Tribunal's turn to ask Mr Desmond about his relationship with PJ Mara. Dermot Desmond's account of what happened ten years ago contradicts evidence given by former Century director, James Stafford. Mr Stafford says that Dermot Desmond told Century directors that they owed PJ Mara £30,000. Mr Stafford said that he regarded this claim as suspicious. Dermot Desmond denies all this. PJ Mara was a good friend, he said. Yes, he met the directors of Century once with Mr Mara in 1990 but he was just helping his friend sort out negotiations for work with Century. Tribunal lawyers put it to him that no record could be found that Century had ever intended giving PJ Mara a job. The company was bankrupt at that time and was laying off staff. Lawyers suggested to Mr Desmond that his claim that Century was taking on an employee was totally implausible.
