The planning tribunal has rebuked the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, after his lawyers delivered a statement criticising evidence given by the developer Mr Tom Gilmartin, writes Paul Cullen.
The tribunal chairman, Judge Alan Mahon, said it was not appropriate for Mr Brennan's legal team to make a statement about Mr Gilmartin's evidence.
Judge Mahon made his intervention yesterday after Mr Rory MacCabe SC, for Mr Brennan, accused Mr Gilmartin of making "outrageous and untrue" accusations about the Minister at the tribunal on Tuesday. Mr Brennan later repeated the accusation on radio and television.
Mr MacCabe said Mr Gilmartin had made a "false and malicious" accusation against Mr Brennan by claiming the politician had attended a meeting with other ministers and the developer in Leinster House in February 1989.
However, Judge Mahon said it was "inappropriate" for Mr Brennan's lawyers to suggest Mr Gilmartin was being malicious. There was simply a conflict of evidence between the two men and Mr MacCabe would be able to cross-examine the witness in due course.
Mr Brennan and former minister Ms Mary O'Rourke are scheduled to give evidence tomorrow, though this is likely to be delayed by further evidence from Mr Gilmartin.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, who is also alleged by Mr Gilmartin to have attended the Leinster House meeting, told the Dáil yesterday he was "looking forward" to appearing at the tribunal.
Mr Gilmartin yesterday gave further evidence about the pressure he came under when contacted by the tribunal. He said he had received at least four death threats since the tribunal started.