Ahern due back before Mahon Tribunal today

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is due back in the Mahon Tribunal this morning for more questioning about his personal finances in the 1990s.

Yesterday, Mr Ahern accepted that he made sterling lodgements worth thousands of pounds to Irish Permanent accounts in the early '90s.

He had previously said the lodgements were the proceeds of his pay cheques, but he denied yesterday that he had knowingly concealed the sterling transactions.

He said the sterling had originated from betting on horse races and from wages that he changed into British currency because he was considering buying an apartment in Manchester.

Mr Ahern also admitted that, although the tribunal had informed him about the sterling lodgements days before his former secretary Grainne Carruth gave evidence in March, he did not make contact with her.

He accused the tribunal of trying to "hang" Ms Carruth when she appeared at the hearing.