The Mahon Tribunal has issued an apology to Conor Haughey, son of former taoiseach Charles Haughey, over a reference to him in its final report.

A DUBLIN businessman said yesterday it was “coincidence” that he and two associates failed to tell the Mahon Planning Tribunal about Ciaran Haughey’s involvement in their airfreight warehousing project.

FINANCE Minister Brian Cowen yesterday defended his backing for a commercial enterprise near Dublin Airport headed by a businessman from a Fianna Fáil family.

THE helicopter hire business part-owned by Ciaran Haughey lost close to €230,000 last year, according to recently filed accounts.

THE Commission for Aviation Regulation is investigating claims that an illegal helicopter operator provided taxi services to major events such as the Galway Races and Slane music festival.