Mara comes under fire for failing to tell of offshore account

PJ MARA, Fianna Fáil's director of elections for the Nice Treaty campaign, has been criticised by the tribunal for failing to co-operate with its inquiry.

Mr Mara failed to tell the tribunal of an offshore account despite swearing an oath that he had revealed all of his financial affairs. The former press secretary to Fianna Fáil said he had forgotten about the Isle of Man account, but this was rejected by the tribunal, which said it was unlikely given that transactions took place in it as late as September 1997.

The tribunal's interest in Mr Mara's financial affairs began after question marks were raised over his role in awarding of a broadcast licence to Century Radio. James Stafford, one of Century's backers, told the tribunal there were rumours that Mr Burke and Mr Mara were seeking money in exchange for broadcast licences.