Feely defends decision not to call in gardai over Gilmartin's claims

Mahon TribunalFormer Dublin city and county manager Mr Frank Feely has defended his decision not to inform the gardaí first about the allegations made to him by developer Mr Tom Gilmartin.

Mr Feely said he felt it would be "totally inappropriate" to initiate an investigation into the allegations without first informing the "political bosses" of those implicated.

In March 1989, he brought the allegations to the attention of the minister for the environment, Mr Pádraig Flynn, who brought in the gardaí, Mr Feely pointed out.

Ordinarily, he would have gone to the gardaí with such allegations, he said. However, two of those implicated, Mr Liam Lawlor and Cllr Finbarr Hanrahan, were local representatives.

Ms Patricia Dillon SC, for the tribunal, asked why Mr Feely had gone to Mr Flynn.

The witness replied that Mr Flynn was responsible for local government. He would hardly have gone to the minister for agriculture, or the marine.

Earlier, a former assistant Dublin city and county manager, told the tribunal he reacted with "disbelief" on learning that Redmond was being investigated on allegations of planning corruption. Mr John Prendergast, who had responsibility for planning until he retired in 1991, said he was unable to identify allegations made by Mr Gilmartin about Redmond in the council's files. These formed parts of a series of allegations made by Mr Gilmartin to Mr Feely in February 1989.