Former official contests evidence of Burke buying house in Swords

A former bank official has contested Mr Ray Burke's evidence of how he paid for his house in Swords. Mr John Kieran Delany, a former assistant manager at the Whitehall branch of Bank of Ireland, told the tribunal that the question of Mr Burke's house was never mentioned when he was interviewed by garda∅ during a 1974 investigation into the politician.

He said a letter provided by the bank to investigating garda∅ did not prove Mr Burke paid money for the house. Mr Burke has given evidence that the purpose of the Garda inquiry was to establish if he had paid for it.

He said he paid £15,000 for the house, which was built by a company part-owned by his benefactor, Mr Tom Brennan, but the tribunal has heard evidence that no money changed hands. Mr Burke has pointed to the letter as evidence that he did pay money.

The letter, bearing the signature of Mr Delany and dated August 1974, says the bank gave Mr Burke "bridging loan accommodation" for £15,000.

Mr Delany said yesterday he had no recollection of the letter but he agreed it did not explain who it was Mr Burke had paid for his house or how he paid for it.

After a number of articles appeared in the media about Mr Burke's affairs in 1974, Mr Delany was contacted by the Special Branch officers, he said. Two detectives came to the branch and said they wanted to see all the files relating to Mr Burke.

Mr Delany told them he could not provide these for reasons of confidentiality. He offered to contact Mr Burke for a letter of authority to give access to the accounts, and this was obtained. He gave the garda∅ the use of a room, where they examined Mr Burke's files. That was the last communication he had with them.

He said the garda∅ never said they were inquiring into the circumstances surrounding the purchase of Mr Burke's house.