Ahern amazed by generosity of friends, publican recalls

PUBLICAN Dermot Carew told the Mahon Tribunal yesterday he handed over IR£16,500 in cash to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, with the comment: “Bert, the boys and myself want you to have that”.

Mr Ahern was “absolutely amazed” at the kindness of his four pub pals when he called into Mr Carew’s Beaumont House one midweek night in September 1994 and was presented with the money. Refusing at first, Mr Ahern agreed to accept the cash on condition he repaid “when he had his affairs sorted out”.

This was the second so called goodwill loan from friends for Mr Ahern inside a year. In late 1993, Fianna Fáil fundraiser Des Richardson had helped raise £22,500 for Mr Ahern.