Norman Turner, a Manchester-based businessman involved in the consortium that planned to develop the Phoenix Park racecourse as a casino, had 'assurances' from Bertie Ahern and other Fianna Fáil Ministers that they would back the proposed casino, Fine Gael claimed today.
Department of Finance documents released under the Freedom of Information Act to the party's environment spokesman, Phil Hogan, reveal that Mr Turner was "confidently predicting" support from Mr Ahern and his government for the casino project.
"Mr Turner said that he had had a series of meetings with Government Ministers, including the Minister for Finance [Mr Ahern], from which he claimed to have received assurances that there would be no problem about the promotion of amending of legislation," the Department of Finance file said.
According to Mr Hogan, the documents do not support Mr Ahern's supposed opposition to the casino project in the Phoenix Park.
During the 1990s there was intense local opposition to the planned Sonas development and at the outset of the 1997 general election campaign, Mr Ahern issued a statement saying there "will be no casino, as proposed, at the Phoenix Park racecourse".
Mr Ahern was minister for finance at the time of the talks and had political responsibility for the lottery. The contacts did not lead to a formal deal between the lottery and Mr Turner's group, Sonas, whose plans for the site of the former Phoenix Park racecourse were backed by US casino firm Ogden.
The Mahon tribunal has previously heard that Mr Turner gave $10,000 in 1994 to Des Richardson, then chief fundraiser for Fianna Fáil.
Mr Hogan, who yesterday released information confirming that Mr Ahern had facilitated a passport application for Mr Turner in 1994, again called on the Taoiseach to make "a full and honest statement of the nature of his relationship with Mr Turner".
He also said "it would be a most welcome development if Mr Turner would start co-operating with the Mahon tribunal and respond positively to their requests that he attend as a witness".
