Tribunal fails to identify ‘Bertiegate’ leak source

THE Mahon Tribunal has failed to identify who leaked a confidential letter that triggered the September political crisis involving Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

The revelation that a group of businessmen had made personal payments to Mr Ahern totalling between €50,000 and €100,000 when he was Finance Minister in 1993 was published in The Irish Times.

In a brief statement, chairman Judge Alan Mahon set out the action taken by the tribunal to uncover the source of the leak, including interviews conducted by himself with all tribunal staff. All of the staff told him they had not leaked the document.