A Brennan and McGowan company, Oak Park Developments, conveyed a site in Swords, Co Dublin, to the former Fianna Fail minister, Mr Ray Burke, in 1973 on which it later built his house, the Flood tribunal was told yesterday.
Mr Patrick Hanratty SC told the tribunal the conveyancer, Mr Esmonde Reilly, a solicitor with Sheerin Wynne where the principal partner then was Dr Tony O'Reilly, had said no money had changed hands.
The sum of £7,000 was the consideration on the contract. It was a two-acre site bought by Oak Park for £7,000.
Mr Hanratty said the tribunal had spoken to Mr Michael J. Foley, managing director of Oak Park, who said Mr Burke had paid £15,000 "to the company, and not through solicitors".
Oak Park had later transferred the site to Mr Burke. Title to the house was not registered by Mr Burke until 1980, when he used it as security for a loan.
The architect was Mr John Keenan, who worked for Brennan and McGowan and was subsequently appointed by Mr Burke to An Bord Pleanala, Mr Hanratty said. Mr Burke was minister for local government at the time.