Much to his regret now, Mr George Redmond said, he had agreed in 1987 to a request from an elderly developer, who wanted to sell land, to meet Mr James Gogarty, whom he did not know.
The tribunal heard that Mr Redmond agreed to a meeting in 1987 with the developer, Mr Bat O'Shea, who wanted to sell his land at Poppintree. Mr O'Shea asked him to be present and to meet Mr James Gogarty, of the Murphy Group, the potential purchaser.
Cross-examined by Mr Frank Callanan SC, for Mr Gogarty, Mr Redmond said that Mr O'Shea, whom he knew, was endeavouring to sell the house and lands and consulted him. His company was liquidating and he wanted to sell.
Mr Redmond said Mr O'Shea said the house was on seven or eight acres and surrounded by lands owned by the Murphy Group.
Mr O'Shea explained who Mr James Gogarty was, saying he was the Murphy man in Ireland. Mr O'Shea seemed to feel he was having difficulty in explaining the potential of the land. Mr Redmond felt he could help and Mr O'Shea asked Mr Redmond if he would see Mr Gogarty with him.
Mr Callanan said it seemed extraordinary for Mr O'Shea to bring in somebody Mr Redmond had never met before for the purpose of discussing lands which Mr O'Shea was endeavouring to sell.
Mr Redmond said he had known Mr O'Shea for many years. "He was winding up, his partner was dead, and he said would you see him [Mr Gogarty], and I said I would . . . In the circumstances of this request, it was perfectly reasonable, and I responded, much to my regret, but nevertheless I did", Mr Redmond said.
Mr Callanan said Mr Gogarty's evidence was that he had no recollection of such a meeting.