AIB official suspected prank over Ahern meeting, tribunal hears

SENIOR banker Philip Murphy suspected a prank when he got a phone call saying Bertie Ahern wanted to talk to him just before Christmas, the planning tribunal has heard.

Mr Murphy was AIB assistant branch manager in O’Connell Street when he met Mr Ahern on December 23, 1993. Mr Ahern, the then minister for finance, said he was seeking a loan for legal costs associated with his marriage break-up.

The tribunal is probing Mr Ahern’s personal finances in relation to six banking transactions between December 1993 and October 1994 — including the loan for £19,115.97 which was the focus of yesterday’s examination of Mr Murphy.