Burke contradicts Brennan and McGowan tribunal evidence

Former Fianna Fáil minister Mr Ray Burke said the builders, Mr Tom Brennan and Mr Joe McGowan, "had been wrong" in the evidence…

Former Fianna Fáil minister Mr Ray Burke said the builders, Mr Tom Brennan and Mr Joe McGowan, "had been wrong" in the evidence they gave to the Flood Tribunal.

In previous evidence Mr Brennan told the Flood Tribunal that Mr Burke had given him details of his offshore Isle of Man account so that a £50,000 political donation could be made by Mr Brennan in 1982. Mr McGowan, also in previous evidence, said that he didn’t know about the donation until after it had been made.

Mr Burke today told the tribunal it was his understanding that he gave the bank details to Mr McGowan who must have passed them on to Mr Brennan.

When Mr McGowan and Mr Brennan first gave evidence to the tribunal, in April 2000, they corroborated Mr Burke’s version of events. However, the two men changed their evidence earlier this year.

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As the tribunal revisited evidence previously given by Mr Burke, exchanges between counsel for the tribunal, Ms Patricia Dillon SC, and Mr Burke became quite heated.

At one point Ms Dillon asked Mr Burke to keep to the questions asked and "not to make speeches".

Replying, Mr Burke said he was trying to co-operate fully with the tribunal and did not appreciate having "snide remarks" being made at him.

Mr Burke also confirmed to the tribunal that documents he shredded in 1997 were not financial records but constituency files.

Mr Burke will continue his evidence on Tuesday.