O’Connor insists no friendship existed

ECONOMIST Padraic O’Connor — the former head of NCB Stockbrokers — told the Mahon Tribunal yesterday he still does not understand how two close associates of Bertie Ahern could have considered him to be a personal friend of the Taoiseach.

Former Fianna Fáil chief fundraiser Des Richardson and Mr Ahern’s solicitor, the late Gerry Brennan, listed Mr O’Connor among those they would approach in late 1993 to help pay legal fees for the Taoiseach’s marital separation.

“I never had a pint with Mr Ahern; I never went to a football match with Mr Ahern,” said Mr O’Connor. “These are things that I would do with friends.”