Former government minister and EU commissioner, Mr Pádraig Flynn, is unable to account for almost £80,000 lodged to non-resident accounts held in his and his wife's name, the planning tribunal has heard, writes Paul Cullen
Making his long-awaited appearance at the tribunal yesterday, Mr Flynn said he didn't know the £50,000 he got from developer Mr Tom Gilmartin - equivalent to his ministerial salary for a year - was lodged in one of these accounts.
He also said he had "no recollection" of inviting a former cabinet colleague, Ms Mary O'Rourke, to meet Mr Gilmartin in the company of other ministers in Leinster House.
Mr Gilmartin and Ms O'Rourke have told the tribunal there was a meeting between the developer and ministers in February 1989. Outside the meeting, Mr Gilmartin has claimed he was subjected to a £5 million extortion demand.
However, Mr Flynn said yesterday he had "no recollection" of the meeting. He claimed Ms O'Rourke's evidence was "in direct conflict" with Mr Gilmartin's.
He firmly rejected the contention of tribunal lawyers that much of Mr Gilmartin's money ultimately ended up being spent on personal investments and expenses, including a forestry farm in Co Mayo, holidays and furnishings for his house.
"Little if none" of the money was used to pay for the farm which was bought in his wife Dorothy's name, he claimed. The tribunal has already heard Mrs Flynn will receive £140,000 in EU grants over a 20-year period for growing trees on the farm.
Mr Flynn is expected to tell the tribunal in further evidence today that Mr Gilmartin's donation was a "no strings attached" payment for personal political use.
In contrast, Mr Gilmartin has said he gave the money to Mr Flynn for the use of Fianna Fáil. The party never received the money.
The tribunal heard Mr Flynn can only account for Mr Gilmartin's donation and a further £25,000 out of £155,000 lodged to the Flynns' three accounts between 1986 and 1993. He believes much of the remaining money came from political contributions, but kept no records.
Mr Gilmartin's donation in 1989 was the largest amount he received in his political career, he told the tribunal. It was only slightly less than the £51,000 he earned as a minister in that year.
Tribunal lawyers also revealed that Mr Flynn received political contributions of £8,000 from National Toll Roads in 1993 and £3,000 from Davy Stockbrokers in 1992.
Appearing at the tribunal six years after he first came under investigation as a result of Mr Gilmartin's allegations, Mr Flynn said he didn't know the £50,000 he got from the developer was lodged in a non-resident account.
He denied any knowledge of three non-resident accounts held in his and his wife's name at their AIB branch in Castlebar in the late 1980s.
Asked what he did with Mr Gilmartin's cheque, he said: "I took it away with me". He brought it to Castlebar, took it out of his pocket and gave it to his wife.
Mr Flynn said he understood his wife lodged the cheque along with other monies.
He agreed that the cheque was the biggest political donation he had received in his career and that it was a "significant sum".
Ms Patricia Dillon SC, for the tribunal, pointed out that Mr Flynn knew about Mr Gilmartin's allegations in March 1989 and ordered a Garda inquiry.
Yet several months later, he took a "monstrous, enormous" sum from the developer without making any record to ensure there was no question of impropriety.
Mr Flynn said he took the money because he trusted Mr Gilmartin. He did not give a receipt because he was not asked for one.