Tom Gilmartin: The Man Who Brought Down a Taoiseach and Exposed the Greed and Corruption at the Heart of Irish Politics

Years after a businessman came up against a culture of corruption that frustrated his efforts to develop parts of Dublin, a lengthy and meticulous Tribunal of Inquiry substantially verified his account of pervasive corruption. The book is a detailed report of the matter. It also has the merit of revealing some of the strategies used by the powerful to prevent justice running its course - obstruction, diversionary tactics, ad hominem attacks - when inconvenient truths kept emerging. A few of those involved served prison time, but the sad fact is that most escaped any legal or financial penalty.

I absolutely loved this book,It is by no means an easy read as it's hard not to be disgusted at the corruption in the highest levels of our little country and the contempt shown to so many by so few.Tom Gilmartin deserves the gratitude of the Irish people.Hopefully people will not forget and remember him to have been a truly unique and remarkable Irish Man.Thank you the Gilmartin family & Frank Connolly great book.

Excellent book. Well written, fair and easy to read and follow. Excellent work by Frank Connolly.Tom Gilmartin was a Prince among men. Rest in peace good man.A must read book if you're interested in Irish politics it's a good book to read.

Well worth reading, this book gives a clear (and depressing) view of the corruption at the heart of Irish politics. At times it is simplistic and possibly one-sided, but the overall picture is clear and stark.

I enjoyed reading this book because it showed what many politicians were up to during the so-called Celtic Tiger, and how it affected the decent man Tom Gilmartin.

It was an excellentread - some passages were tedious as they had a lot of detail. But is was fascinating and gave a great insight to the rampant corruption

Why is there no apology for this colossus of a man? He is a real true statesman, RIP Thomas Gilmartin.

I know now why we had to emigrate and still these people are untouchable god help Ireland

I have read a number of books covering particularly politics, banking, and property development in Eire over the past two decades and am shocked at the widespread and seemingly almost taken for granted corruption that keeps on occurring leading one to the view that this is an endemic flaw in this country's political and commercial life.Even if only part of Tom Gilmartin's memory is reliable, then it is still a shocking condemnation on the system of governance and commercial activity.Gilmartin comes over as a basically decent fellow who is taken advantage of by the prevailing commercial and political cabal which together with an ailing much cherished wife causes him many problems and unhappiness. His hitherto successful businesses suffer greatly as a consequence.A very thorough and well researched book, if anything a little too detail intense to facilitate gripping reading.

Excellent insight into the events and circumstances which led to the setting up of Flood / Mahon tribunal. The story is compelling and lives up to the maxim "truth is stranger than fiction".The author, Frank Connolly has an excellent writing style, no doubt as a result of many years in professional journalism. He does however demonstrate a very strong bias and I think the book would have benefited from a more neutral presentation of facts and allow the reader to reach their own conclusions, especially given the overwhelming evidence supporting the case put forward by Mr Gilmartin.The book is a good addition and a telling insight into the modus operandi of politicians and senior civil servants in the late 20th Century in ireland. It is hard to believe that they were so overt and particularly the complicity of those around them, while not directly involved supported their activity by a conspiracy of silence.

this book let's you see the corruption in Ireland's government and the great man who stood his ground to stand up to them Tom Gilmartin

Outrageous what this man and his family had to go through for greed and corruption off others

Frank Connolly captures the greed and averice associated with the pre Irish economic fall out circa 2008. He portrays Tom Gilmartin as an honest Irish emigrant ,who made some money in the UK and wanted to stop the flow of emigration from Ireland by creating jobs in Dublin but was taken to the cleaners by corrupt people in power.