Hugh Morgan press release:
I wish to clarify and set the
record straight in relation to the dealings I had with Sean Gallagher which
resulted in my attendance at a Fianna Fail fundraiser in the Crown Plaza Hotel,
Dundalk, on the 1st July 2008.
Sean Gallagher , who I had
never met previous to this, contacted me by phone. He first phoned me on the
6th June 2008 and invited me to attend the above fundraiser. In the course of
the call he requested a donation of €5,000.00 for Fianna Fail. He advised me
that this type of fundraising would replace the annual Galway Tent Fundraiser.
In return for the €5,000.00 donation I was promised a private audience with the
Taoiseach and I would get a photograph taken with him.
He told me that the Taoiseach
would give an up-date on the economy in the South which in his words was
'beginning to wobble'
On the 9th June he again
phoned me to confirm my attendance . I confirmed that I would attend and was
prepared to give the donation he requested. He left two mobile phone numbers
for me to contact him on these numbers are 0878293028 and 0879763122.
On the 27th June Sean
Gallagher visited my business premises at Killean, County Armagh. I wrote a
cheque for €5,000.00 and gave it to him personally. The cheque number is 13014.
I still have the stub of the cheque , This payment is declared in my Company
accounts and was cleared through my bank on the 1st July 2008.
I then attended the
fundraiser which was also attended by other businessmen from South Armagh,
North Louth and across the Northeast. Sean Gallagher greeted the guests on
arrival and directed us to the room at the top of the Hotel where the
fundraiser was held.
Brian Cowen gave a speech on
the economy and predicted a soft landing. At the end of the night Sean Gallagher
introduced me to Brian Cowen and facilitated a photograph to be taken of myself
and him. Approximately one week later Sean Gallagher called back to my business
and gave me the photograph.
It is a fact that
approximately fourteen years ago I was convicted of tax evasion in relation to
fuel smuggling in Northern Ireland. As a consequence to that, I have repaid the
Exchequer and paid a substantial fine. I was never investigated by CAB or any
other agency in the Republic.
Since that time I have
developed a successful international business known as Morgan Fuels.
I employ over eighty people
in Ireland ,both North and South. I have business interests in Ireland ,
Britain and Europe and the Morgan Fuel card can be used up to 4,000 service
stations in fourteen countries across Europe.I am also the official sponsor of
the Armagh County teams of the GAA.
Sean Gallagher interview with Rachael English on RTÉ’s Morning
Ireland on
20/10/2011:
Gallagher: I was asked by Fianna Fail Headquarters of which I was a party member at the time in 2008 which is no secret if I would mention it to local business people which I did.
English: So you rang people up and invited them?
Gallagher: No, people that I met, I explained that there was this event coming up. I have to make it very clear, I sought no money, I received no money from anybody, that was dealt with by Headquarters Fianna Fail Headquarters. I also want to make it very clear that while I attended the event I was not asked for money, I made no contribution myself in either a personal capacity or as a corporate donation either before the event, during the event, or after the event.
English: How many people did you invite?
Gallagher: I think I mentioned to possibly three or four people, and I have no idea to this day whether or not they made a donation whatsoever.
English: Does this not though invite further scepticism about your links with Fianna Fail?
Gallagher: Well I think that has been well trashed out and it's an ongoing issue that keeps coming up. I mean I have made it clear numerous times that I was involved in Fianna Fail in 2007, 2008 and for a short period in 2009.
Gallagher: I was asked by Fianna Fail Headquarters of which I was a party member at the time in 2008 which is no secret if I would mention it to local business people which I did.
English: So you rang people up and invited them?
Gallagher: No, people that I met, I explained that there was this event coming up. I have to make it very clear, I sought no money, I received no money from anybody, that was dealt with by Headquarters Fianna Fail Headquarters. I also want to make it very clear that while I attended the event I was not asked for money, I made no contribution myself in either a personal capacity or as a corporate donation either before the event, during the event, or after the event.
English: How many people did you invite?
Gallagher: I think I mentioned to possibly three or four people, and I have no idea to this day whether or not they made a donation whatsoever.
English: Does this not though invite further scepticism about your links with Fianna Fail?
Gallagher: Well I think that has been well trashed out and it's an ongoing issue that keeps coming up. I mean I have made it clear numerous times that I was involved in Fianna Fail in 2007, 2008 and for a short period in 2009.
http://mayotoday.ie/index.php/browse-mayo-news-by-category/mayo-politics/item/2269-tv-dragon-to-launch-callearys-election-campaign.html
ReplyDeletehttp://hoboroadpoliticalhighway.blogspot.com/2011/10/sean-gallagher-with-albert-reynolds-in.html
ReplyDeleteHugh Morgan has just said in a radio interview that he has pictures from a CCTV camera of Sean Gallagher visiting his premises
ReplyDeleteWhat station?
ReplyDeleteMagic 105 Armagh
ReplyDeletehttp://www.irishtimes.com/audio/2011/10/lmfm.mp3
ReplyDeletegrma, anons...
ReplyDeletehttp://hoboroadpoliticalhighway.blogspot.com/2011/10/hugh-morgan-and-brian-cowan.html
ReplyDelete