Taoiseach protests ‘catchall trawl’ through finances

AT the start of his second day in the witness box, the Taoiseach expressed surprise at the extensive trawl of his financial affairs which arose from an order for discovery of documents by the tribunal.

Bertie Ahern: That is a catchall. It was everything from cradle to grave. I don’t known why I was in that category... It was a large trawl of everything and anything to do with Bertie Ahern. I don’t understand that. I don’t know what justifies that.

* Tribunal counsel Des O’Neill SC asked Mr Ahern about large cash transactions on which there was no information on the sources of the money.