Cork developer says Creighton 'looking for attention' with 'cute hoor' speech
A Cork property developer suing Fine Gael's Lucinda Creighton for defamation claims she was looking for attention when she made a speech denouncing "cute hoor" politics.
Michael O'Flynn said he was not satisfied with an offer of a donation and an apology on the TD's website following her address to the McGill Summer School in July 2010.
He said he treasured his reputation and was "absolutely shocked and offended" by an interview on RTE radio with Ms Creighton in which she criticised his attendance as a Nama developer at a golf fundraiser for the party at the K club in July 2010.
Under cross examination, Mr O'Flynn said there was absolutely nothing inappropriate about accepting a political donation from a developer in Nama.
The developer, whose business owes around €1bn to the state bank, said Lucinda Creighton's suggestion that Fine Gael should hand the money back was an "appalling" one.
He is suing the Junior Minister for her speech two years ago denouncing "cute hoor" politics and low standards in public life and over follow-up interviews with RTE and The Irish Times in which she critically referred to Mr O'Flynn's attendance at the Fine Gael fundraiser at the K Club.
Asked what he considered the big sticking point, Mr O'Flynn said: "It's quite simple...I was attacked publically right across the media...I wanted an apology…,quickly and publically...in the same way I was attacked'.
Lucinda Creighton denies defamation but the jury has heard she may also rely on the defences of qualified privilege, honest opinion and fair and reasonable publication on a matter of public interest.
Asked if he thought the main message of her speech in Glenties was about the lack of any independence of politicians in 2010, Mr O'Flynn replied: "The main message was Lucinda Creighton looking for attention about stuff politicians feed off when they want to get noticed."
