The role of AIB in the development of lands at Quarryvale, west Dublin that later became the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre is among the key areas of investigation in the new phase of the the Mahon tribunal.
Some 88 witnesses are due before the tribunal's chairman, Mr Justice Alan Mahon, in the module known as Quarryvale II, which opened today.
In total, this module will examine payments of nearly £2 million covering a ten-year period up to April 2001.
Before the module commenced Mr Justice Mahon expressed his sympathy to the family of tribunal witness Liam Lawlor, who died in a Moscow car crash last month. Members of Mr Lawlor's family are due to give evidence early next year.
The tribunal resumed this morning after an 18-month interval, with the opening statement for the second phase of the inquiry into the rezoning of Quarryvale to be developed by Tom Gilmartin and Owen O'Callaghan, and part-financed by AIB.
Council for the tribunal Patricia Dillon SC outlined the complex network of companies involved in the lead-up to the finalising of terms and shareholders for the development. The involvement of political lobbyist Frank Dunlop's in paying politicians to get the lands rezoned between March 1991 and December 1992 will also be central to this module.
Evidence of considerable pressure being put on Luton-based developer Tom Gilmartin by AIB and Cork-based developer Owen O'Callaghan was put before the tribunal today. Correspondence received by Mr Gilmartin from Eddie Kay of AIB and Mr O'Callaghan showed that the proposed development was in danger because of Mr Gilmartin's problems in raising the finance.
Mr O'Callaghan was prepared to press ahead with a rival development in Neilstown, Clondalkin, if he and Mr Gilmartin could not agree terms for progressing the Quarryvale project, the tribunal heard.
Around the time of late 1990 and early 1991, AIB was also pressurising Mr Gilmartin to finalise the finance or else repay with interest the IR£8.5 million loan the bank had given him for the project. It was also concerned about the failure to secure rezoning of the Quarryvale lands.
Ms Dillon said documents show that AIB was keen that Mr O'Callaghan become involved in the development, Mr O'Callaghan later bought out Mr Gilmartin's share in the project.
Cousel said the events of February 15th, 1991, were central to the module. On that date Mr O'Callaghan and Mr Gilmartin agreed the terms for the shareholders in Barkhill Ltd, the company which developed Quarryvale.
On the same date a motion was drawn up signed for Dublin County Council proposing a change in status for Quarryvale. Counsel said the tribunal would be seeking to establish whether the two events were connected.
In the period between March 1991 and December 2002, payments made by lobbyist Frank Dunlop to politicians and political parties in relation to the rezoning will also be central to the inquiry.
Payments made to Mr Dunlop during this time by companies relating to Mr O'Callaghan and Mr Gilmartin amounted to around £270,000. Among those alleged to have received payments are the late Mr Lawlor, Fianna Fáil TDs Batt O'Keeffe and GV Wright, Cllr Colm McGrath and the late Fine Gael councillor Tom Hand.
The hearing resumes tomorrow.