Mr James Stafford knew about the payment of £35,000 from Mr Oliver Barry to Mr Ray Burke before it was paid, Mr Stafford's accountant, Mr Tom Moore, has told the tribunal in a statement.
Mr Stafford denied the claim, saying the first time he was aware of the payments made by Mr Barry to Mr Burke was when he read newspaper reports of the tribunal's proceedings earlier this year. He said Mr Barry had told him on March 20th 1991 that he had paid Mr Burke £35,000 but he didn't believe him.
He said Mr Barry had wanted to put the payment into the Century Radio accounts but as there were no documents to support it Mr Stafford said he didn't want to do this.
"Mr Barry told me he had made a payment to Mr Burke and I didn't believe him . . . what I actually knew only came from reading reports from the tribunal," he said.
Mr Pat Hanratty SC read out part of Mr Moore's statement which said that six months after Century Radio's launch in 1989 Mr Stafford told him Mr Barry had said he wished to make a payment to Mr Burke. Mr Moore's statement said Mr Stafford did not specify the amount and that he (Stafford) did not want to be involved in the payment.
The statement also said that some months later in 1990 Mr Stafford said Mr Barry had made a personal payment of £35,000 to Mr Burke and it was not out of Century funds.
"Mr Moore has his dates mixed up. I am clear the first time I knew was on March 20th 1991," Mr Stafford said.
Mr Hanratty said it was not just a case of mixing up dates as the statement said Mr Barry was going to make a payment to Mr Burke.
"Did you tell Mr Moore before the payment was made that Mr Barry was going to make the payment?" Mr Hanratty asked. Mr Stafford said he didn't know and when Mr Hanratty asked if Mr Moore was incorrect he replied: "Yes, he is incorrect."