The signature of auctioneer Mr John Finnegan was forged on a Brennan and McGowan company document, the tribunal was told yesterday.
The document referred to the transfer of shares from one company, Victa Investments, to another, Worland Investments. Both companies were largely owned by builders Mr Tom Brennan and Mr Joe McGowan. Victa/Worland purchased three acres of land at Donnybrook in a deal in which Mr Finnegan acted as selling agent.
Asked what happened when the document was signed, Mr Brennan said he and Mr McGowan signed it in an office. They then left and he was not sure what happened then. "I had no involvement in a forged signature in any shape or form." Mr Finnegan's authentic signature appeared on a contract for the sale of land owned by the Sacred Heart Convent in Monkstown. This was not the same as the signature on the other document, said Mr Pat Hanratty SC, for the tribunal.
Mr Brennan was asked what Mr Finnegan "brought to the table" in land deals at Monkstown and Donnybrook, for which he received more than £200,000.
The tribunal was told Mr Finnegan received £105,000 for the land transaction at Monkstown, and £101,000 for the land transaction at Bellevue Avenue, Donnybrook.
Mr Hanratty repeatedly asked Mr Brennan the reason for paying Mr Finnegan.
Mr Brennan said Mr Finnegan was a partner and, as such, was entitled to his share of any deals. `That was the way we operated," he said.
Mr Hanratty pointed out that Mr Finnegan was a director of the Jersey company that was selling the Donnybrook land.
He suggested that what Mr Finnegan "brought to the table" was the ability to free the title of the lands from a restrictive covenant. Both titles were subject to development restrictions which were subsequently lifted.
Mr Brennan agreed that this might be the case.