Flynn to be questioned at tribunal

FORMER EU Commissioner Pádraig Flynn is to give evidence to the Mahon tribunal today as part of its ongoing inquiries into the the Quarryvale development.

Mr Flynn has already given evidence about a cheque for £50,000 he received from the developer Tom Gilmartin in 1989.

Mr Gilmartin has said he intended the payment to go to Fianna Fáil but Mr Flynn has denied this and said it was a donation towards his personal political operation. Mr Flynn was at the time minister for the environment but he was also a treasurer of Fianna Fáil. It is not clear why he is being called today but it may be that the tribunal wants to question him about other matters to do with the party's finances.

The Taoiseach's close associate Joe Burke was to have given evidence tomorrow but has been dropped from the list of scheduled witnesses and is now expected to give evidence at some later date.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times