Three good reasons to recall bank lodgements

MAYBE I have failed to notice the relevant information in the copious reports, but surely the Mahon Tribunal could have established — or still could establish — the truth in relation of the two disputed AIB bank lodgements in 1994, without having to resort to conjecture.

Surely the officials who took in amounts that were highly unusual in three respects — on behalf of the Minister for Finance, many large bundles of notes, and in foreign currencies — remember counting the amounts and working out their Irish equivalent, while the person or persons lodging them waited a considerable time for receipts in Irish currency terms?

Surely they can recall the denominations of those currencies?

And surely AIB staff records indicate the names of all the officials on duty that day.

In fact, we know that one such official, Philip Murphy, took in a briefcase and returned it empty.

Have those officials been interviewed? If not, why not?

Mr Murphy has been interviewed, but has he been asked about the denominations in the briefcase?

In fairness to the Taoiseach, this matter should surely be settled by way of such interviews, if possible, rather than by way of conjecture with damaging implications.

Joseph F Foyle

Sandford Road

Ranelagh

Dublin 6