FF TD Fleming seeks 'urgent correction' from Mahon
Fianna Fáil TD Seán Fleming is writing to the Mahon tribunal seeking an "urgent correction" to the fifth and final report of the Tribunal published today.
Deputy Fleming said: “The Tribunal report, most probably inadvertently, implied that I, in my capacity as former Financial Controller of Fianna Fáil, was aware of the IR£50,000 payment to Mr Padraig Flynn by Mr. Tom Gilmartin. This is simply not the case.
“There was no suggestion at any time at the Tribunal or at public session that I was aware of Mr Flynn’s involvement in this matter. It is also clear from the Tribunal’s own findings issued today that while other people were made aware of Mr Flynn’s involvement, there is no suggestion that I had any knowledge on this matter.
“Unfortunately the Tribunal implied (Chapter 17, ‘The knowledge of Mr. Tom Gilmartin’s payment of IR£50,000 to Mr. Padraig Flynn within Fianna Fáil’, page 2460, paragraph 6) that I had knowledge of Mr Flynn’s involvement in this donation. The report stated that neither I nor others ‘contacted Mr Flynn in relation to Mr. Gilmartin’s payment of IR£50,000 at any time prior to the establishment of this Tribunal.’
“As stated in the report, what was asked of me, in my role as Financial Controller of Fianna Fáil, was to ascertain if there was any record of a donation from Mr. Gilmartin. No one gave evidence suggesting that I had been told that the Gilmartin donation had been made to Padraig Flynn.
“It is clear from the evidence given at the Tribunal that the issue of a donation to Mr Flynn is not something that I was aware of. Accordingly I am asking the Tribunal to correct its findings on this issue as a matter of priority.”
“I fully recognise the findings of the Tribunal report. However since an incorrect statement has been made against me which has significant consequences for me as a serving politician and Chartered Accountant I believe and hope that the Tribunal will move to correct this small but significant error.”
