Mahon Tribunal: Lawyers for Mr Larry Goodman have accused the tribunal of unfair procedures after information appearing to link the beef baron to an offshore account was read out at the inquiry.
Mr John Gleeson SC, for Mr Goodman, claimed that the tribunal had breached confidentiality by making public the contents of a letter it received from his solicitors two days ago.
Mr Goodman is to be recalled to give evidence about the letter, which provides explanations for a number of substantial payments out of an account in the Isle of Man.
Mr Gleeson said that his client's private affairs were being publicised in a way which was both oppressive and unfair.
However, the tribunal rejected his complaint. Judge Alan Mahon said that the contents of the letter differed from Mr Goodman's evidence last December, when he had denied any knowledge of financial dealings in the Isle of Man.
Judge Gerald Keys likened the obtaining of information from Mr Goodman and others to "pulling teeth" and asked why it had taken the businessman five months to produce the information.
In the letter, Mr Goodman's lawyers provide explanations for the movement of funds in and out of the account of Mobberley Ltd, an Isle of Man company involved in the Coolamber land deal currently under investigation by the tribunal.
Mr Noel Smyth, a solicitor engaged by Mr Goodman to recover debts arising from the deal, set up Mobberley, but says that it was operated on behalf of Mr Goodman.
Among the transactions listed are: a £100,000 payment to an Egyptian trading company; $29,000 for aircraft services in the US; and £233,000 which Mr Goodman says was used by Mr Smyth to tender (unsuccessfully) on his behalf for a United Meat Packers plant in 1992.
However, Mr Smyth told the tribunal he had no recollection of these transactions and said that the money involved was Mr Goodman's.
Responding to Mr Gleeson's complaint, Judge Mahon said it must have been clear that the information in the letter would be made public. Counsel had sat through the questioning of Mr Smyth without raising any objection, he pointed out.
Mr Gleeson replied that when the matter came up he had not had an opportunity to take instructions from his client. The letter contained an express request for confidentiality, yet this had been "simply ignored".
Judge Mahon said that the time to raise the issue was during the morning questioning of Mr Smyth, before "the horse had bolted".
Mr Des O'Neill SC, for the tribunal, said he did not believe confidentiality had been breached.
The tribunal has adjourned until March 1st.
