High Court hears Ahern challenge to tribunal inquiries

A THREE-JUDGE High Court has begun hearing the challenge by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to the conduct by the Mahon Tribunal of its inquiries into certain banking transactions conducted through Mr Ahern’s account in 1993 and 1994.

However, a number of concessions made by the tribunal since the case was initiated and disclosed to the court yesterday are expected to have a considerable impact on the scope of the action.

The concessions include the tribunal’s acceptance, contrary to an earlier position, that the Constitution prohibits it from questioning Mr Ahern about the veracity of statements made by him in the Dáil about his financial affairs. The tribunal also yesterday agreed to hand over to Mr Ahern information sought by him about the basis for its conclusions about the nature of lodgments to separate bank accounts of Mr Ahern and his former partner Celia Larkin.