Gilmartin's claims of Burke payoff totally false -- solicitor
Tom Gilmartin's former solicitor has rubbished claims of a "golden handshake" deal to encourage minister Ray Burke to resign and so prevent the setting up of the planning tribunal.
Seamus Maguire, whose practice is based in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, acted as Mr Gilmartin's solicitor and knew him well from 1987 to 1996.
Mr Gilmartin has told the tribunal Mr Maguire would confirm several incidents which occurred during Mr Gilmartin's often stormy business relationship with developer Owen O'Callaghan, who bought out Mr Gilmartin's interest in the Quarryvale development.
However, yesterday Mr Maguire told the tribunal he could not corroborate a claim by Mr Gilmartin that he had seen Mr O'Callaghan falling out of a broom closet at AIB headquarters.
Mr Maguire said he went to the bathroom during a break at a meeting in the bank. Mr Gilmartin went with him and later said that Mr O'Callaghan had been " ear wigging" on their conversation in the bathroom. Mr Maguire said Mr Gilmartin became obsessed about this and often mentioned it to him.
However, he didn't remember a broom closet there or see Mr O'Callaghan. He had returned from the bathroom before Mr Gilmartin.
Mr Maguire said another of Mr Gilmartin's allegations -- that he told Mr Gilmartin that former Minister Ray Burke was to be paid up to IR£750,000 to go quietly and that this arrangement was agreed in Mr Maguire's office -- was a complete fabrication.
"I was taken aback when I was asked about this. I came to the conclusion that it was malicious and prompted by some person who did not have my best interests at heart," Mr Maguire said.
He said during the time he was retained by Mr Gilmartin, the developer had never told him he had paid IR£50,000 to Padraig Flynn for Fianna Fail.
- Lorna Reid
