Phil Flynn is one of the two Irish businessmen, who were probed over IRA money laundry scandal. He was approached by Tsvetana Minkova from Darik News after Kathryn Nelson, an Irish woman caught up in money laundering investigations following the Northern Bank raid, began a hunger strike*.
Q: On what projects have you worked together with Kathryn Nelson?
A: I didn't work with her. Kathryn was an advisor on Bulgaria. She had intimate knowledge of Bulgaria and very good range of contacts. She worked for herself and knew the Bulgarian market very well. She was an expert and sold advice.
Q: What was the advice you wanted to get from her two years ago?
A: I wanted her to give me basic advice on Bulgaria's economy, the systems, including the legislative one, and on the country as a whole. I met her in Bulgaria.
Q: Did she arrange any meetings for you and with whom?
A: Of course, she did. I can't remember exactly with whom but I think they were businessmen and state officials.
Q: Did you meet all of them?
A: I'm not absolutely sure but I certainly talked to a lot of people.
Q: Did you confer with people when the meetings weren't arranged by Kathryn?
A: I think most of the meetings were arranged by her.
Q: Do you owe her money for services that she rendered to you?
A: She didn't actually do anything for me personally. She provided services for Ted Cunningham. It was Ted Cunningham, who was engaged with her.
Q: Do you know if he has paid her for these?
A: I have no idea. I know that she owes me money but that's nothing to do with anybody else but me and her.
Q: How much money does Kathryn Nelson owe you?
A: That's not your business.
Q: I talked to her and she claimed that you and Mr Cunningham owe her GBP 100,000. That's a lot of money...
A: What for?
Q: For the provided services.
A: It's not true.
Q: Then why should she claim this?
A: I don't know. All I can say is that's not true.
Q: How much money does Kathryn owe you?
A: I'm not prepared to discuss it.
Q: When did you give her the money?
A: I'm not prepared to discuss it.
Q: Do you know why Kathryn has gone on a hunger strike?
A: I have no idea.
Q: She claims that she isn't able to find a job for herself because Ireland hasn't delivered an official statement that she isn't a suspect.
A: The only existing accusations were made by the media.
Q: Is the money-laundering investigation already completed?
A: I have no idea. All I can talk about is what I know. And I know that I wasn't charged or arrested.
Q: Where did the money that you planned to invest in Bulgaria come from?
A: We actually came to Bulgaria not to invest but to look at the opportunities and to prepare a report based on them, which could encourage our contacts and plans to invest there.
Q: Then what was the report that you prepared about the investment opportunities in Bulgaria and did you advice anybody on investing in the country?
A: We certainly did. But what happened was that the whole thing became a sort of overtaken. This money-laundering thing slowed the whole thing down. We wanted to set up a mortgage company in Bulgaria.
Q: Why didn't you realize this project?
A: We were looking for investors. And when this robbery rose we decided not to do anything in Bulgaria. That was our position at that time. Bulgaria's government sent to the Irish one a report in which they stated there was no basis for the allegations.
Q: Are you going to look for Kathryn Nelson now?
A: What's the point?
Q: Do you know who and how much has paid her for the services she provided to you and Mr. Cunningham?
A: We had an arrangement with her, which was fully completed. All the costs were met by us.
Q: What was the sum?
A: I'm not prepared to discuss that. I, personally don't owe anything. I don't speak for Mr. Cunningham.
*An interview scripted by Margarita Stoyancheva, Sofia News Agency
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