O’Connell ‘found a top-of-the-range BMW outside his door’

FORMER Health Minister John O’Connell surprisedly found a top-of-the-range BMW car delivered to his door, a gift for helping friends of billionaire Saudi Arabian diplomat Mahmoud Fustok get Irish passports, the Moriarty Tribunal heard yesterday.

Dr O’Connell said: “Mr Fustok sent a new, top of the range BMW car and left the car at my door and when I heard it, I sent it back two days later. Because, I must tell you, I made a rule when I first entered politics I would not accept any political donations or election donations and I fought every election with my own money.”

While travelling in Mr Fustok’s limousine in 1980, Mr Fustok asked him what car he drove and what he thought was the best car. Dr O’Connell then drove a Citroen but said the best car on the road was a BMW. A few months after that, the BMW arrived.