Counsel for Mr Oliver Barry told the Flood tribunal yesterday his client was adamant he had not introduced Mr Ray Burke as "the minister who is going to give us our licence", as alleged by Century Radio's technical adviser, Prof Ray Hills.
Mr Barry was "absolutely adamant" he had not said this, counsel put it to the witness. "He would not say such a thing."
"Clearly, I have a different recollection," replied Prof Hills.
There had been five or six people in their group, he recalled, in response to Mr Allen's suggestion that the Horseshoe Bar in the Shelbourne Hotel was normally very busy at about 6 p.m. when the alleged meeting took place.
They included Mr Barry and himself and possibly Mr James Stafford, co-founder of Century with Mr Barry. There were others there as well, he said: "I did not know and still don't know who they were."
If Mr Stafford said he had left by this time, he had no reason to doubt that, he added.
"Was it possible it was somebody else and not Mr Barry?" Mr Allen asked him.
"I find that difficult to believe," replied Prof Hills. "If Mr Stafford was not there, the only other person I knew was Mr Barry." He had addressed his question - as to who Mr Burke was - to Mr Barry, he insisted. He would not have addressed it to someone he had never met before. "All I can do is repeat I have given my recollection of that occasion."
"I have to formally put it to you that that is not Mr Barry's recollection," said Mr Allen.
"And I have to reply formally that his recollection and mine appear to differ," said Prof Hills.
Earlier, the broadcasting consultant told the tribunal he had found it fascinating to be drinking in the company of Government ministers.
The controversial remark about Mr Burke - attributed by him to Mr Barry - was made on a convivial occasion, Mr James Connolly SC, counsel for Century's co-founder, Mr James Stafford, suggested.
"Was there not an element of sarcasm in what Mr Barry allegedly had said?" That was possible, admitted Prof Hills.
In the event that obtaining the licence was a foregone conclusion, continued Mr Connolly, then all of Prof Hills's efforts on behalf of the Century application would have been pointless. "You would have invested a great deal of time and money unnecessarily," he suggested. Prof Hills agreed.
His client, Mr Stafford, was emphatic he did not meet Mr Burke on that occasion, Mr Connolly added. That was possible, replied Prof Hills. "I could not say if Mr Stafford was present or not." He had spent only about half an hour in the bar, he said.