Bertie returns to Mahon Tribunal

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has begun his evidence to the Mahon Tribunal, the long-running anti-corruption inquiry.

The tribunal is probing Mr Ahern’s personal finances during the 1990s, including the purchase of his home and his constituency base.

The former accountant’s exchanges with the tribunal’s legal team are expected to be more robust today as he is no longer head of government.

The Mahon Tribunal, which was established in 1997 to investigate planning corruption, is believed to have cost up to €350m so far.

In the latest evidence from the inquiry, Mr Ahern’s former partner, Celia Larkin, revealed yesterday that the TD loaned her €40,000 in February to pay off another loan given to her by his local Fianna Fáil party organisation in 1993.

Mr Ahern is also scheduled to give evidence tomorrow and on Friday to the inquiry, sitting at Dublin Castle.