The Flood Tribunal has heard that the former Fianna Fáil Minister, Ray Burke, set up an investment company in the Channel Islands in 1984. The company was registered to Mr Burke and his wife, using an address in Hampshire in England. Dublin-based solicitor, Oliver Conlon, told the Tribunal that he was instructed by Mr Burke to set up a company in Jersey in 1984. Caviar Limited was a shelf company with investment powers.
He said that he believed the beneficial owners were recorded as a Mr PD Burke and his wife who had an address in Hampshire in England. This, he believed was Mr Burke's brother. But Mr Burke's lawyers later said that it was in fact Ray Burke using the initials of his other names - Patrick Dermot. Mr Conlon said that he had little else to do with the company.
Records from a law firm in Jersey - Bedell and Cristin - show it was instructed to open a bank account for Caviar into which £60,000 was lodged. This firm was also told to address correspondence to a Mr A Burke, to mark it confidential and send it in sealed envelopes to Mr Conlon's Dublin office. Mr Conlon said that he never gave that instruction. Other records referred to the company investing in property in Ireland.
Ray Burke is expected to give evidence tomorrow as the Century module of the Tribunal draws to a close. Oliver Barry concluded his evidence today. He was followed by his former assistant, Maeve McManus, who said that she knew nothing about her former boss' dealings with Ray Burke. She and Mr Barry disagree about money which passed between them and about a bank account opened in her name around the time of a Prince concert in Cork. Ms McManus said that she never opened the account.
Earlier, the former head of Network 2 in RTÉ told the Tribunal that he was out of the country when Oliver Barry claims to have given him £5,000 in cash. John McGrath has denied ever receiving money directly from the former Century Radio boss. Mr Barry previously told the Tribunal that he believed John McGrath may have been present when he handed over the "goodwill payment" at Mother Redcaps pub in Dublin.
Mr Peter Brannigan, the RTÉ executive who received the money, has said that it was only £1,600. The money was spent on drinks parties for RTÉ staff who had worked on the Century Radio project. Mr McGrath said that he was given £1,000 by Mr Brannigan and asked to host the parties. However, he never received the money directly from Mr Barry.
Meanwhile, lawyers for the Tribunal are to return an affidavit of discovery to PJ Mara because, they said, it was unsatisfactory. The Tribunal heard earlier that it did not "comply with the rules of the superior courts". The Tribunal is investigating allegations of a price list for broadcasting licences, which Mr Mara denies. Mr Mara had until last Thursday to produce all his financial documents. The Tribunal heard this morning that the documents were produced on Friday. They were assessed over the weekend by Tribunal staff. Today, the Tribunal said that they would be returned with a letter.
