Taoiseach denies receiving dollars

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has categorically denied he received money in US dollars.

Questioned on why a sum, in sterling, from millionaire Michael Wall lodged into an account opened by Mr Ahern’s then partner Celia Larkin was equivalent to $45,000 on that day’s currency market in 1994, the Taoiseach yesterday denied any connection.

“I never received any dollars. It wasn’t dollars,” he said at the first Fianna Fáil election press conference he has attended during the campaign.