'It is a lie'
In a statement, unusual for the emotion of its content and tone, he launched a blistering attack on a Sunday Independent article alleging he failed to furnish documents, describing it as "unfounded and absurd."
He departed from the script at one point to retort: "It is a lie."
Ahead of what's expected to be turbulent exchanges in the Dáil today, Mr Ahern delivered a forthright rebuttal of allegations that he failed to hand over documents to the Mahon Tribunal pertaining to the Tom Gilmartin/Quarryvale module.
It was claimed that documents he referred to in a Dáil statement on January 27 1999, including personal and departmental diaries, had yet to be handed over to the tribunal.
In his statement yesterday, Mr Ahern gave a point-by-point response to specific claims made in the article:
He said the text of a letter from Fianna Fáil to Pádraig Flynn raising the issue of the £50,000 cheque given to him by Mr Gilmartin was set out in full in the Dáil statement. That statement was furnished to the tribunal.
He said there were no notes of a meeting he held with Mr Gilmartin on September 28, 1989. Therefore, he could not have failed to furnish those.
He said the full Dáil statement, in which the content of all relevant documents was set out in full, was sent to the tribunal.
Lastly, all documents referred to in both his Dáil statement, and his statement to the tribunal, had been furnished to the tribunal, he said.
"For the past number of years and over the past two weekends I have had to endure malicious, biased and misleading reports in the media about my alleged involvement in certain events 15 years ago. Some of these articles have been accompanied by sensationalist and untrue headlines."
He then referred to previous false bribery allegations made against him by Cork businessman Denis "Starry" O'Brien.
As opposition parties geared themselves for a fierce assault on Fianna Fáil and its political standards, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny also rounded on the Progressive Democrats. He demanded that Justice Minister Michael McDowell explain how he had been aware for some time of allegations concerning the tax affairs of the Flynn family. Labour leader Pat Rabbitte yesterday wrote to the Taoiseach demanding a statement and a full debate. Referring to Beverly Flynn, Mr Rabbitte said: "it would be absolutely ludicrous if (she) were to be permitted to make a statement but all other members of the Dáil were then prevented from (doing so)."
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said Mr Ahern's had displayed "suspect" judgment when he allowed Ms Flynn return to the parliamentary party fold.
He demanded that Dáil business be suspended to allow Mr Ahern make a statement.
The matter is certain to come up during Leader's Questions when Mr Ahern will be quizzed about yesterday's statement and last weekend's allegations about the financial advice Ms Flynn gave to her father in relation to the £50,000.
The manner in which Ms Flynn returned to the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party following the 2002 general election will also be raised.
Mr Gilmartin has alleged that he handed a £50,000 cheque to Mr Flynn when he was environment minister in the late 1980s.
He also claims that he met then Taoiseach Charles Haughey and senior ministers, including Mr Ahern, in Leinster House.
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