In 1987, when CRH is alleged to have been operating as an unlicensed bank, some of the State's most high-profile businessmen were on its 15-strong board. The High Court was told yesterday that eight of them held deposits with Ansbacher in the Cayman Islands.

As befitted its status as one of the Republic's leading companies and a major player internationally, CRH's board included leading businessman - renowned in the private and public sectors - some of whom are still with the group.

The board included figures such as Mr Jim Culliton, a former AIB director and former CRH chief executive, and Dr Michael Dargan, a former chairman and chief executive of Aer Lingus.

The fifteen board members in 1987 were: Mr Don Godson, Mr Tony Barry, Mr Harry Sheridan, Mr Jack Hayes (all still serving board members), Mr Jim Culliton, Mr Richard Wood, Mr Gerry Hickey, Mr Bob Willis, Mr G Valkier, Mr Paddy Dempsey, Mr Donal Roche, Dr Bill Murray, Mr Dermot Quirke and, of course, Mr Des Traynor.

A spokesman for CRH said last night the company would not be making any comment on the affidavit presented to the High Court yesterday and its contents. The chief executive of CRH, Mr Don Godson, is currently in the US and could not be contacted.

Mr Tony Barry, current chairman of CRH and a former chief executive, could not be contacted. A family member at his home said he was on holidays. Mr Barry is a member of the Court of Bank of Ireland, former president of IBEC, and holds directorships with Greencore and DCC plc. The former chief executive of Irish Life, Mr Robert P. Willis, refused to comment when asked whether he was an Ansbacher depositor. Asked whether he was concerned that the authorised officer's report said an unlicensed bank was operating from the CRH's registered office, Mr Willis said: "I certainly was not aware of any irregularity. I was aware of the name Ansbacher."

Asked if he was concerned that more than half CRH's board held Ansbacher accounts, Mr Willis said: "I wouldn't have known. It was none of my business as to what other people did with their financial affairs."

Mr Willis said he had no difficulty with the fact that Mr Des Traynor carried out Ansbacher business at CRH's corporate headquarters. "I was aware that Mr Traynor had other activities. He was free as far as I was concerned to work there [in his CRH office] for any other activities."

Asked if he was an Ansbacher depositor, Mr Gerry Hickey, a former director of the New Ireland Assurance Company and partner at solicitors Hickey, Beauchamp, Kirwan and O'Reilly, said he would make no comment. He refused to answer questions about the contents of Mr Appleby's affidavit.

Mr Donal Roche, a former director of the Jurys Hotel Group and Glen Abbey, said last night that he never had an Ansbacher account. He said he only ever had one bank account in his life and it was not an Ansbacher one. Mr Roche said none of the directors had ever mentioned being Ansbacher depositors.

Mr Roche was a brother of Mr Tom Roche, who died recently, and who was a founder of Roadstone. That company merged with Irish Cement in the 1970s to become CRH.

Farmer Mr Richard Wood, who was chairman of John A Wood & Company, a Cork company which was bought out by CRH, and is a former governor of the Irish Times Trust, said last night that he never had an Ansbacher account. He said he had no idea which directors had accounts. He said the directors had discussed company business, not private business.

Mr Jim Culliton could not be contacted for comment. He is the author of the Culliton Report, which formed a blueprint for industrial strategy for the 1990s.

The Irish Times was unable to contact Mr Bill Murray, who in 1987 was a senior lecturer at NIHE, now Dublin City University, and who was also managing director of William Murray & Associates, Management Consultants.

Another listed director, Mr Diarmud Quirke, a former executive director of CRH and a director of Irish Steel, is now deceased.

Dr Dargan, former chairman of Goff's, could not be contacted for comment.

Another former director Dr G Valkier, who was based in Holland, could not be contacted. It is thought that he has since moved to Belgium.

Mr Paddy Dempsey, who was director of CRH services at the time, was also unavailable as was Mr Jack Hayes. He was managing director of finance and development at the time. He is currently chairman of Unidare and of Athlone Extrusions. Aged 64, he is also a director of Goldman Sachs Funds plc and is involved in ACT Development Capital.

CRH finance director Mr Harry Sheridan could not be reached. He joined CRH in 1967 and is a director of the Irish Stock Exchange.