Bookmaker donated £5,000 after Cork dinner

FORMER Cork bookmaker Joe Donnelly told the Mahon Planning Tribunal yesterday he attended a private dinner in the company of former taoiseach Albert Reynolds on March 11, 1994.

“I have known Mr Reynolds for many, many years,” said Mr Donnelly. “I was a bookmaker and he used to bet.”

He was invited by accountant Niall Welch, who told him it was a fundraising dinner at his home for Fianna Fáil. At that stage Mr Welch was his accountant.