|
Mahon Tribunal to question Taoiseach over his finances
 IRELAND’S
Mahon Tribunal into alleged corruption over planning matters will seek
further information from a key witness before grilling Taoiseach Bertie
Ahern about his personal finances this week.
The tribunal resumes public hearings after the summer recess and has changed
its witness schedule to recall AIB bank official Rosemary Murtagh.
In July, Ms Murtagh told the tribunal that money lodged on Mr Ahern’s
behalf in the AIB branch on O’Connell Street in Dublin in December
1994 was probably US dollars.
The tribunal is probing a lodgement valued at Ir£28,772.90 made
by the Taoiseach’s then partner Celia Larkin that month.
The Taoiseach has insisted the money derived from £30,000 given
to him by Manchester-based businessman Mr Wall.
The money was for the refurbishment of Mr Wall’s house in Drumcondra
which Mr Ahern was then renting and later bought.
But Ms Murtagh has told the tribunal that the paperwork recording foreign
exchange transactions for the day the lodgement was made shows the bank
bought sterling only to the value of Ir£1,921.53.
The bank bought Ir£28,969.34 worth of other currencies on the day
and Ms Murtagh said that if the paperwork was correct it was most likely
that the lodgement was US$45,000.
But she agreed with counsel for the Taoiseach that it could possibly have
been sterling.
Mr Ahern has denied ever dealing in dollars and his lawyers have insisted
it can be mathematically proven that the sum lodged was in sterling.
After seeking further information from AIB over the summer, the tribunal
has recalled Ms Murtagh for further testimony.
Her appearance in the witness box is scheduled to be followed by businessman
Michael Wall.
The tribunal has allocated a whole day to hear the testimony of Celia
Larkin and unless there are delays the Taoiseach is due to give evidence
on Friday.
Political commentators say this week’s evidence could prove some
of the most crucial to be heard by the tribunal. |
