Treasurers did not know balance of ‘B/T’ account

UNTIL recent weeks both treasurers in Bertie Ahern’s Dublin Central constituency did not know exactly how much was in the “B/T” account from which Celia Larkin was loaned IR£30,000, the Mahon Tribunal heard yesterday.

Dominic Dillane — who was elected “No 1 treasurer” in 2001 — said until this year he had relied entirely on the information regarding the account given to him — seven years previously — by the Taoiseach. When Mr Dillane joined the organisation as treasurer, Mr Ahern told him the account contained about €47,000 and that the loan was outstanding.

John J Murphy, his assistant and “No 2 treasurer” since 2005, said he would be relying on the word of Mr Dillane regarding the so-called Building Trust account. He was not involved in preparing this account for the constituency’s annual general meetings, was never shown the B/T figures, and he never asked for them.