Builder Mr Tom Brennan today faced renewed questioning at the Flood tribunal regarding a number of business transactions carried out by he and his business partner Mr Joe McGowen in the 1970s and 1980s.
Mr Pat Hanratty SC, counsel for the tribunal, asked Mr Brennan to explain why significant sums of money were borrowed in Ireland, transferred to accounts in Jersey and then immediately distributed.
Mr Hanratty outlined to the tribunal a business pattern involving several of Mr Brennan's developments whereby an Irish company was set up to borrow finances for development and a Jersey company was set up to receive and distribute it.
The tribunal is questioning Mr Brennan about payments allegedly made to former Fianna Fáil minister, Mr Ray Burke.
Mr Brennan has agreed to making a payment of £60,000 to Mr Burke in 1984 from a company jointly owned by his business partner Mr Joe McGowan. Original testimony from both parties suggested the payment came from official fundraising for Fianna Fáil.
Mr McGowan has since altered his evidence and claimed the money was sourced from the offshore company called Canio Ltd.
Yesterday Mr Brennan made a number of contradictions relating to the source of the payment. Contrary to Mr Burke’s evidence to the tribunal, Mr Brennan insisted the money was a political donation. Mr Burke claimed both Mr Brennan and Mr McGowan told him the payment was the result of fundraising activities.
Under intense questioning from Mr Hanratty yesterday, Mr Brennan said he had never spoken to Mr Burke about fundraising but couldn’t remember if he had told the former minister where the £60,000 was to come from.
Mr Hanratty has accused Mr Brennan of obstructing and hindering the work of the tribunal and of avoiding giving straight answers.
The tribunal continues this afternoon.