Lodgments, loans and lost friendships — the Mahon Planning Tribunal has turned the spotlight on a series of puzzling events before Christmas 1993, reports Conor Ryan

IN ITS current line of investigation the planning tribunal has turned to one man to explain Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s complicated finances.

IN September 2006 An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern went on RTÉ and described NCB stockbroker Padraic O’Connor as among his long-standing friends.

FORMER Fianna Fáil chief fundraiser Des Richardson told the Mahon Tribunal yesterday he discovered only this year Bertie Ahern had taken out a bank loan 14 years ago to meet legal bills arising from his marriage separation, rather than use £22,500 raised in a whiparound.