Ahern used Haughey adviser to prepare for tribunal

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has reportedly used Charlie Haughey's former tax adviser to help prepare his financial records for the Mahon Tribunal.

Reports this morning say Des Peelo helped Mr Ahern prepare his statement for the tribunal last year about the money he received from businessmen in the 1990s.

The revelation comes as the Taoiseach refuses to answer questions about the latest controversy surrounding his finances at the time.

Asked yesterday about the stg£30,000 in cash that businessman Michael Wall gave to Celia Larkin in 1994, Mr Ahern said he would not be answering any questions until the matter came before the tribunal.

The opposition, meanwhile, has queried Mr Ahern's initial description of the payment as a "stamp duty issue" and has demanded that he make a public statement to clarify the situation.