Padraig Flynn on the Late Late Show, January 1999

I finally got my hands on it. I had trouble finding it anywhere on the internet, so someone may have already beaten me to it.

Anyways here it is. Pee Flynn destroying his political career in one interview. The quality is not the best as it was recorded on VHS nine years ago, but it is watchable. Enjoy.

The early part of the interview centres on the EU corruption scandal, where Paul van Buitenen was a whistleblower against corruption in the Commission.

The second part centres on the then Flood Tribunal, and allegations that Tom Gilmartin had given a £50,000 cheque intended for Fianna Fail, but the payee was left blank allegedly at the request of Flynn. Gilmartin watched the interview from his London home, and was so angry after watching it he decided to fully cooperate. The first audience question is journalist Barry O’Halloran, who was planted there by the producers, as was common practice on the Late Late.

Pee Flynn train wreck

The Irish Times, on the following Monday, had this front page story:

The EU Commissioner, Mr Padraig Flynn, is unlikely to be renominated by the Government for a third term on the Commission, according to senior Fianna Fail sources.

Mr Flynn is “extremely doubtful” to be put forward by the Government this year, when Ireland is required to nominate its representative for the new commission which meets for the first time in January 2000, the sources said. “He has had his run,” one added.

Party sources yesterday expressed grave misgivings at Mr Flynn’s performance on last Friday’s Late Late Show, particularly when questioned about an allegation by the UK-based property developer, Mr Tom Gilmartin, that he made a payment of £50,000 to Mr Flynn in the late 1980s.

Mr Flynn, who was at home in Co Mayo yesterday, could not be reached for comment. A Government spokesman said last night the Taoiseach had given “no thought” to the question of nominating Ireland’s next commissioner. Mr Ahern would not deal with it until the summer, after the European elections in June, he said.

It continued:

Asked by Gay Byrne on last Friday’s Late Late Show whether he had met Mr Gilmartin, Mr Flynn confirmed he had. He continued: “He’s not well. His wife isn’t well. And he’s out of sorts.”

At the end of the programme, after Mr Flynn had left the studio, Mr Byrne read out a retraction. “In the interview it was suggested by Pee Flynn that Tom Gilmartin was sick. As far as Pee is concerned Tom Gilmartin is not sick and has never been seriously sick and we would just like to say sorry and apologise for that,” he said.

According to Late Late Show sources, the apology was not initiated by Mr Flynn. A woman rang saying she was Mr Gilmartin’s sister, and insisted the EU Commissioner’s remarks were factually incorrect. The producers contacted his daughter, Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn, in Castlebar. She made contact with Mr Flynn, who agreed to the apology.

As a result of Mr Flynn’s comments, Mr Gilmartin said he was reconsidering his decision not to co-operate with the planning tribunal.

He said he and his family had been the subject of threats and intimidation in recent months, but declined to give details. These would emerge in time at the tribunal, he said.

Mr Gilmartin said that tribunal lawyers last year threatened to take legal proceedings against him in the UK to compel his appearance before the tribunal. It therefore appears almost certain that Mr Gilmartin will be called to give evidence later this year.