| Bertie’s £8,000 Manchester cash mystery
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern was this week facing the biggest political crisis of his
career in a row over an £8,000 donation by a group of Manchester-based Irish
businessmen.
Controversy and confusion continued to surround the money raised for him at a
function in the city in 1994.
Opposition politicians called for Mr Ahern to clarify on what basis he attended
the event and who organised and contributed to the collection of the £8,000.
One area of contention is whether Mr Ahern actually attended the event as a
speaker — which would have important implications for the tax status of the
payment.
The row followed on from revelations that 12 friends of the Taoiseach had
previously loaned him IR£39,000 in 1993 during a difficult time in his personal
life. He has now repaid the money with interest.
But Mr Ahern was facing growing pressure to explain details of the controversial
Manchester payment — given to him when he was the then Minister for Finance.
Fianna Fail was this week compiling vital information on the controversial
whip-around which it hopes will save the Taoiseach’s position.
The move was given a boost by businessman John Kennedy — who was present at the
dinner and said the payment was neither a political donation nor a loan.
He also claimed Mr Ahern attended the dinner as a private citizen.
Mr Kennedy told RTÉ approximately 27 were invited to the function and that a
collection was made during the evening.
Mr Ahern was also facing questions over corporate hospitality extended to him by
Manchester property developer Norman Turner.
The Taoiseach was a guest of the businessman at two Manchester United soccer
matches at Old Trafford in 2000 — at a time when Mr Turner was proposing to
build a conference centre and casino in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.
But a spokesman for the developer denied there was anything untoward about the
invitations.
He said: “Mr Turner is 99 per cent sure Bertie Ahern paid for his own flight and
accommodation in Manchester.
“He had a corporate box and invited Mr Ahern as he knew they shared a passion
for Manchester United.
“He took him there at no extra cost to himself and he regards suggestions this
was a junket or sweetener as absurd.”
Mr Ahern was due to make a statement on the Manchester donation to the Dáil this
week in what is seen as the most crucial address of his career. |
