Man gave money 'to alleviate Bertie's financial difficulties'

One of the businessmen who attended a function in Manchester in 1994, at which Bertie Ahern claims he was given Stg£8,000 in a whip-around, has changed his reason for donating the money.

In his response to queries from the Mahon Tribunal last year, John Kennedy said he, along with the late Tim Kilroe and others, had organised a dinner in Manchester in 1994 at which Bertie Ahern spoke on the subject of future prospects for the Irish economy.

In that letter, Mr Kennedy said he had donated Stg£1,000 to Mr Ahern to support his efforts in changing the face of Irish politics.

However, today Mr Kennedy submitted a corrected and clarified letter to the tribunal, saying he was not involved in organising the dinner and it was actually arranged by Mr Tim Kilroe.

He also changed the reason for his donation of the money, saying he was advised that Mr Ahern had certain financial difficulties arising from his marital breakdown.

He said he didn't put it in the original letter because he considered it would be potentially embarrassing for Mr Ahern.