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.”

A conflict exists between Mr Richardson and Mr O’Connor as to the purpose of the requested donation.

Mr O’Connor insists he was asked if NCB would consider giving £5,000 to part-fund the running of Mr Ahern’s constituency office, St Luke’s. Mr Richardson denies saying this, but that he told Mr O’Connor it was a personal donation for Mr Ahern’s legal bill.

Lawyer Jim O’Callaghan, for Mr Richardson, suggested Mr O’Connor had consulted senior NCB colleagues because he knew the unusual request was for him to make a donation for a personal expense of Mr Ahern.

Mr O’Connor replied “Nonsense.”

Counsel put it to Mr O’Connor he sought to make that personal donation through NCB and in order to get it paid by NCB he had needed a valid purpose so that a cheque could be requisitioned.

Mr O’Connor: “No, that’s offensive and it’s absolute nonsense.”

During the 1992 currency crisis Mr O’Connor had advised Mr Ahern, who was then Minister for Finance.

“I think after he became Taoiseach I might have met him once or twice since I left NCB, which was eight years ago.”