Two-week delay in FF activist’s evidence
The evidence of Fianna Fáil party activist Tim Collins, an associate of Mr Ahern and a trustee of his St Luke’s constituency office, will be heard on March 11.
The tribunal’s inquiries into Mr Ahern’s finances span a six-year period, from 1989 to 1995.
It emerged last week that Mr Ahern’s former partner Celia Larkin was given a £30,000 loan from FF party funds in 1993 that was only paid back — with the relevant interest — shortly after Christmas when tribunal lawyers began to query it.
The money came from the so-called BT (building trust) account, held in the sole name of Mr Collins. The tribunal heard how the FF account was opened in the Irish Permanent Building Society in June 1989 and that Ms Larkin used the money to help buy a home for two elderly aunts.
Bertie Ahern was in Warsaw yesterday to meet the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk. When asked about Celia Larkin’s loan being investigated by the Revenue Commissioners his spokesman said it was made clear at the Mahon Tribunal last week that he was not involved in the decision to assist Ms Larkin.
He said it would be inappropriate to make comments on any person’s dealings with the Revenue Commissioners.
Meanwhile, explaining why yesterday’s adjournment was necessary, tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon said documents were only received on the previous day and the tribunal had not yet had an opportunity to peruse this material in any detail.
Appearing for the FF Dublin Central constituency organisation, lawyer Hugh Mohan SC said the tribunal’s order of discovery seeking documentation was impossible to comply with and the organisation needed more time.
Judge Mahon said the tribunal had been advised by Mr Mohan’s solicitors that a process was under way to determine if additional records existed as this documentation would likely be crucial to the cross-examination of Mr Collins and two other witnesses.
Mr Mohan said his clients were taken aback to be given eight hours to produce the documentation. Part of the order referred to 28 cumainn dating back from 16 to 20 years, and that was a trawling exercise he would have to do.
Mr Mohan said Mr Collins had received the tribunal’s letter on November 20 when he had already booked a two-week trip to the US from December 1.
He had gone on that trip. became ill, returned home and was hospitalised for a period of up to two weeks.
Counsel said the last time Mr Collins had held a role or post was 13 to 15 years ago.
Judge Mahon said the material the tribunal was looking for were minutes of meetings and resolutions — and he thought they would be reasonably ascertainable.
Mr Mohan said they were making inquiries whether there were minutes kept at all. Apart from the 28 cumainn, they had to go to the comhairle ceantar and the comhairle Dáil ceantair.
