Joe Burke and Liam Cooper Give evidence

No text for the time being, deadlines :-)

BERTIE’S BLACK BRIEFCASE

TODAY officials from PriceWaterhouseCoopers were questioned by Des O’Neill SC

TEMPORARY SHUT-DOWN

With reference to my work schedule, daily reports will be curtailed While I focus my attention on drafting this thesis’ project report.

Any opinions on the content or nature of this blog would be deeply appreciated; you can post comments on this site by becoming a member of WordPress.com or alternatively email: citizen.jon@hotmail.com.

I will however reactivate this news-blog at intervals throughout the rest of the Quarryvale module.

MACSHARRY CLAIMS PAYMENTS WERE EU SALARIES

Former Fianna Fail Tanaiste and Minister for Finance Ray MacSharry, refutes developer Tom Gilmartin’s claims that he collected 50K from his Cork offices in 1988.

JOE BURKE’S PUB-CRAWL

	BURKE DENIES SEEKING £500,000 BRIBE FOR AHERN
Port Authority official Joe Burke

TODAY JOE BURKE, Dublin Port Authority official and associate of Bertie Ahern, was given the opportunity to respond to an allegation by developer Tom Gilmartin that he had requested a payment of half a million pounds on behalf of the then Minister for Finance, Bertie Ahern, in September 1990.

AIB’S UNUSUAL MANNER

TOM GILMARTIN’S former business partner, Richard Forman (above), told Tribunal counsel Patrick Quinn SC of “undue pressure” brought to bear by AIB against Gilmartin, the original planner of the Liffey Valley Centre.

Gilmartin, who owed the bank 4.5 million pounds, “was placed under undue pressure to transfer his equity.”

LIFFEY VALLEY ARCHITECT TELLS ALL

PATRICIA DILLON SC, Counsel for the Tribunal, asked Quarrvale architect Ambrose Kelly why he had not provided any documentation required by Order for Discovery relating to his dealings with Liam Lawlor, Frank Dunlop or Owen O’Callaghan from 1990 to 1992.

AIB CLIQUE CLAM-UP CLAIMING NO CLUE

Co-Chairman of the Inquiry, Judge Gerard Keys, found it remarkable that evidence from senior AIB bankers rarely strayed from their carefully prepared notes concerning several “stormy” meetings between AIB, Tom Gilmartin and Owen O’Callaghan.

AIB BANKER UNAWARE OF PURPOSE BEHIND LOANS

COUNSEL for the Tribunal Patrick Quinn SC cross-examined Mr Barry Pitcher, a senior banker with AIB’s Corporate Management division, concerning Allied Irish Bank’s role in funding the Quarryvale development.

BANKER’S MEMORY FAILS

David McGrath, AIB’s Senior Corporate Banker, was unable to recall any details of a meeting he had with Thomas Gilmartin in Luton Airport following the embittered developer’s threats to go to the press concerning the “systematic bribery of Councillors for the purpose of securing rezoning”.