The property developer Mr Tom Gilmartin complained to gardaí in 1989 that an unidentified man told him he "could end up in the Liffey" for comparing Fianna Fáil ministers to the Mafia, the Mahon tribunal heard today.
In his opening statement on the Arlingon/Quarryvale module of the inquiry, Mr John Gallagher SC, said the tribunal would hear evidence from Mr Gilmartin that he was asked to lodge £5 million in an Isle of Man bank account in return for support for a building project, but refused.
Mr Gilmartin will tell the tribunal he was introduced to Fianna Fail TD Mr Liam Lawlor in 1988 when he was seeking support for the development of a shopping complex at Bachelors Walk. He claims Mr Lawlor told him he had been appointed by the government to "take care" of the project.
The developer says he was summoned to a meeting in Leinster House by Mr Lawlor on February 1st, 1989. He said Mr Lawlor told him "the Boss" wanted to see him.
Mr Gilmartin claims this meeting was attended by the then taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, Mr Bertie Ahern, Mr Gerry Collins, the late Mr Brian Lenihan, Mr Seamus Brennan, Mr Padraig Flynn, Mr Ray Burke and Mrs Mary O'Rourke.
All of those alleged to have been at the meeting, with the exception of Mr Haughey and Mrs O'Rourke, have formally denied any knowledge or recollection it took place. The tribunal heard Mr Haughey was unable to direct his legal team "due to ill-health". Mrs O'Rourke has told the tribunal she was briefly present, after being asked to attend by Mr Flynn, who described Mr Gilmartin as a man "who would bring thousands of jobs to Dublin".
Mr Gilmartin claims he was told by Mr Haughey to "keep up the good work". He also says the taoiseach said he hoped Mr Lawlor was "looking after " him.
After the meeting, Mr Gilmartin claims he was approached by Mr Lawlor and another man he didn't recognise. He says he was asked by this man to lodge £5 million in a bank account in the Isle of Man, details of which were written on a piece of paper that was pressed into his hand.
Mr Gilmartin claims he refused, saying: "You people make the f***ing mafia look like monks." He said the man retorted that he "could end up in the Liffey for that statement".
It emerged today that Mr Gilmartin was granted immunity by the DPP in order to convince him to return to Ireland from England to testify at the tribunal.
It emerged today that in 1989 Mr Gilmartin complained to Dublin Corporation and then city manager, Mr Frank Feely, that his attempts to develop lands at Bachelor's Walk and Quarryvale were being stymied by demands for money from Mr Lawlor, Mr George Redmond and Councillor Finbarr Hanrahan.
However, Mr Gilmartin refused to make statements to the gardaí when they opened an investigation. The gardaí eventually exonerated the three men of all guilt, concluding that where "verbal allegations were made, they have been found to be lacking."
Mr Lawlor claimed this afternoon that Mr Gilmartin's allegations were "false, outrageous and unsubstantiated." He said Mr Gilmartin failed in his attempts to develop the two projects at Bachelor's Walk and Quarryvale, not because of political corruption, but because of his own inability. "It had nothing to do with the Mafia or monks or hundreds of thousands of pounds," he said. "When I tried to give Mr Gilmartin sound, reasoned advice, all I got was aggression and hostility."
Mr Lawlor claimed a "disgruntled and vindictive" Mr Gilmartin had eventually been bought out for £10 million when he failed in his development efforts.
He said Mr Gilmartin was sitting in "a glasshouse" in Dublin Castle, and predicted that once the tribunal and the various teams of lawyers were finishing picking his evidence apart, he would be surrounded "by panes of glass". Mr Lawlor said he hoped they didn't "inflict too many deserved wounds."
Mr Flynn and Mr Lawlor were present for this morning's session. They are expected to be called as witnesses in the next few weeks. Other people listed to appear include Mr Ahern, former taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds, Mr Brennan and a number of former Fianna Fáil ministers. Mr Flynn's daughter, Ms Beverley Cooper Flynn, two aides to the taoiseach and a number of gardaí and other public officials are also expected.
Mr Tom Gilmartin began his evidence this afternoon in a packed Dublin Castle auditorium. There was standing room only in the normally empty public gallery.
At the start of this morning's proceedings, Judge Alan Mahon said the tribunal wished to express its "concern and regret" that large portions of the evidence to be presented in this module had been leaked to the media.
He said the leaks "hinder the work of the tribunal and can be most unjust" to those concerned. He has instructed tribunal lawyers to contact all parties who had been sent advance copies of the evidence to try to find out who was responsible for the leaks.
