Dunphy says O'Callaghan was sceptical about Ahern

The journalist and broadcaster Eamon Dunphy has told the Mahon Tribunal that property developer Owen O'Callaghan described Bertie Ahern as someone who failed to deliver on his commitments.

Mr Dunphy worked closely with Mr O'Callaghan during the campaign to move Wimbledon FC to Dublin in the 1990s.

In evidence today, he told the tribunal Mr O'Callaghan was sceptical about Mr Ahern, whom he regarded as a man who would strike deals, but never do the business.

He said the Cork developer never said to him that he had given money to Mr Ahern.

Mr Dunphy said Mr O'Callaghan had claimed Mr Ahern had been "looked after" or "taken care of" and he interpreted this as meaning that the then Minister for Finance received some kind of improper inducement for granting tax breaks for a shopping centre in Athlone.

However, he said he was told that former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds had to "put a gun to Mr Ahern's head" to get him to grant the tax breaks on the night before they left government.