Tense exchanges as Taoiseach resumes tribunal evidence

The Taoiseach's legal representatives have been engaging in tense exchanges with lawyers for the Mahon Tribunal as Bertie Ahern enters the witness box for his third day of questioning.

The exchanges broke out when legal counsel for the inquiry implied that Mr Ahern had not been forthcoming about all his personal finances.

In November 2004, the tribunal issued a discovery order asking the Taoiseach to provide all details of lodgements made on his behalf in the 1990s.

However, when Mr Ahern provided the documentation, details of a lodgement made by his former partner Celia Larkin in December 1994 were not included.

Mr Ahern's barrister, Conor Maguire, accused the tribunal today of putting a legal interpretation on the failure to provide the details.

The Taoiseach himself says the lodgement was not for his benefit, but was made on behalf of businessman Michael Wall.