Dig-out donor didn’t mean to mislead tribunal

THE Manchester-based businessman John Kennedy said yesterday he did not intend to mislead the tribunal when he changed his original account of why he gave a cash payment to Bertie Ahern in the early 1990s.

Mr Ahern has told the tribunal he received about stg£8,500 in cash from a group of Manchester- based Irish businessmen. The dinner took place at the Four Seasons Hotel after the Taoiseach had travelled to Old Trafford to watch a game.

Asked if Mr Ahern had ever thanked him for his contribution, Mr Kennedy said he had not.