A Dublin auctioneer has been granted leave to seek a judicial review of the Flood Tribunal's investigations. Because of John Finnegan's application, the Tribunal has been adjourned. The matter will come before the court next Monday.
John Finnegan has admitted that some of his money was used for a £60,000 payment to former Minister Ray Burke. But he said that he never knew where the money was going. His lawyers claim that the Tribunal therefore has no right to question him about anything else and has overstepped the mark in investigating his business affairs.
While today's High Court decision placed no injunction on the Tribunal, lawyers said that it would be imprudent to proceed with the current line of questioning involving Mr Finnegan.
That line of questioning led to accusations today that the builder Tom Brennan was not telling the truth about his relationship with John Finnegan. The tribunal wants to know why the auctioneer got over £250,000 from Brennan and McGowan land deals. Tom Brennan said that he had helped with the negotiations, but counsel for the Tribunal said that he was deliberately withholding the real story.
The Tribunal heard earlier that Mr Brennan would meet the deadline for handing over documents relating to offshore trust companies. Mr Brennan had been threatened with High Court proceedings if he did not comply with an order for discovery today.
