Tribunal zones in on ‘dig-out’ and ‘whip-around’

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern was yesterday at a loss to explain crucial details about payments amounting to about IR£25,000 from friends and businessmen during the 1990s.

Mahon Tribunal lawyers zoned in on a IR£16,500 “dig-out” he said he received from friends in 1994 following separation from his wife. It also focused on a stg£8,000 “whip-around” he said was handed to him in Manchester by businessmen after a dinner. Both were allegedly lodged and amounting to a total of IR£24,838.49.

Hosted by the late Mayo businessman Tim Kilroe, the Manchester dinner was attended by up to 20 Irish businessmen.