Richardson only aware of loan this year

FORMER Fianna Fáil chief fundraiser Des Richardson told the Mahon Tribunal yesterday he discovered only this year Bertie Ahern had taken out a bank loan 14 years ago to meet legal bills arising from his marriage separation, rather than use £22,500 raised in a whiparound.

With Mr Ahern’s late solicitor Gerry Brennan, Mr Richardson was directly involved in helping to raise the £22,500 for that purpose.

At the time the Taoiseach was minister for finance, but as Mr Richardson told the planning tribunal yesterday “there was a general view in Drumcondra that he wasn’t in the best of shape financially”.