CORRUPTION INQUIRY CEASES PUBLIC HEARINGS

The Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning and Payments has finally closed its doors after an 11 year investigation.

BERTIE RETURNS TO BOX IN DUBLIN CASTLE

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at the Mahon Tribunal, 2008

THE MAHON TRIBUNAL resumes its inquiry today welcoming the most controversial witness in its eleven year life-span, Bertie Ahern TD, who resigned as leader of the Irish nation last May following the discovery of several unsound payments of UK sterling into his bank accounts in the mid-90s.

The Inquiry will continue its cross-examination of Mr. Ahern concerning allegations that he received bribes totalling IR£80,000 from Cork based developer Owen O’Callaghan when he was Minister for Finance in 1993 and 1994.

It is alleged that the former Taoiseach received the unethical payments in return for assisting in the rezoning and development of Quarryvale, a lucrative tract of land in west Dublin adjacent to the M4 motorway, which would eventually become the bustling Liffey Valley Centre.

DEVELOPER’S “MOST UNUSUAL” PAYMENTS

TODAY PATRICIA DILLON, Senior Counsel for the Tribunal, cross-examined Owen O’Callaghan – the Cork based developer who, it has been alleged, paid bribes in the early 90s totalling IR£80,000 to the then Minister for Finance, Bertie Ahern.

O’CALLAGHAN IN THE WITNESS BOX

LAND DEVELOPER Owen O’Callaghan answered questions of Senior Counsel Patricia Dillon about his role in the directorship of Riga Ltd, O’Callaghan Properties and Barkhill Ltd in the mid-1990s.

These companies played a central role in O’Callaghan’s distribution of funds to Councillors in 1991 and 1992 in order to secure a crucial land rezone in West Dublin according to his former lobbyist and ‘bag-man’ Frank Dunlop.

His solicitor and co-director John Deane also answered questions about his distribution of drawdown loans from AIB of several million pounds to facilitate the West Dublin development of what would eventually become the Liffey Valley Centre, Lucan.

AHERN ANSWERS ALLEGATIONS OF BRIBERY

TODAY BERTIE Ahern was cross-examined by the Inquiry into Planning and Payments about the purchase and ownership of his home on Beresford Avenue in Drumcondra, North Central Dublin.

The former Irish leader resigned from government in disgrace last month following the discovery of financial details unearthed by the Tribunal’s inquiries.

Mr Ahern was questioned about the purchase of his home with the assistance of UK based businessman Michael Wall.

Collins & Cowhig Testify

MICHAEL COLLINS one of Bertie Ahern’s alleged dig-out benefactors in 1993, responded to cross-examination by Des O’Neill SC concerning his payment IR£ 2,500 to Mr Ahern.

AHERN WINS ON HORSES

BERTIE AHERN TD appeared in the witness box today to be cross-examined by Des O’Neill SC about several controversial lodgements of UK pounds into his accounts and those of his daughters in 1994.

The former head of government, who resigned following evidence revealed at the Inquiry less than a month ago, today explained that any lodgements to his accounts over 1,000 pounds likely consisted of his winnings at the races: “I am interested in horse racing and over the years I have placed bets on horse races”.

LOOKIN’ OUT FOR LARKIN

TODAY CELIA LARKIN, Bertie Ahern’s former partner, was questioned by Henry Murphy SC about receiving an unsecured loan of IR£30,000 in 1993 from a Fianna Fail account in Irish Permanent Building Society, Drumcondra.

Ms Larkin told the Tribunal that the loan was repaid in full with assistance from Mr Ahern just two weeks before the then Taoiseach gave evidence at the Tribunal last February.

Basquille and Wall give evidence

FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL GIVES EVIDENCE

former attorney general and EU official David Byrne & Gleeson SC (background)