Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said there is no truth to claims published yesterday concerning his allegedly taking cash to Manchester in 1994.
Reports in two Sunday newspapers said a former driver of Mr Ahern's, retired garda Martin Fallon, had in 2000 told Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny of witnessing such an event.
Mr Higgins subsequently reported what he had been told to the Mahon (formerly Flood) Tribunal. The former garda was a relief driver for Mr Ahern in the early 1990s and subsequently, in 1996/1997, for Mr Higgins. The Irish Times was unable to contact Mr Fallon last night.
Mr Higgins told The Irish Times yesterday that Mr Fallon said he had driven Mr Ahern's then partner, Celia Larkin, to a bank in O'Connell Street, Dublin, in 1994. Ms Larkin returned from the bank with a briefcase which she subsequently left in the State car and asked Garda Fallon to mind until the following day, according to his account of events.
Mr Higgins said Mr Fallon told him he had looked into the briefcase and saw there was cash inside. He said Mr Fallon told him that the next day he drove Mr Ahern to Dublin airport, and saw Mr Ahern walk through the VIP lounge with the briefcase, on his way to a flight to Manchester.
Last night a Government spokeswoman said: "The events described in today's newspapers simply did not take place."
"Mr Ahern is not aware of these allegations being put before the tribunal."
She said allegations which had been made to the tribunal but which the tribunal was not proceeding with, would not be notified to Mr Ahern.
Mr Higgins said he had no role in the decision of the Sunday Independent or the Irish Mail on Sunday to run the story yesterday. "The Sunday Independent knew about the story for a long time. It was a decision taken by the Independent themselves."
Mr Higgins said he disclosed what he had been told at the time to Sunday Independent reporter Jody Corcoran, and allowed Mr Corcoran listen in as he discussed the matter on a conference call with Mr Fallon. He said he did not feel he was obliged to inform Mr Fallon of what was happening.
Mr Corcoran, Mr Higgins said, subsequently contacted Mr Fallon but the then retired garda would not discuss the matter with him, Mr Higgins said.
Mr Higgins said he decided to contact the Mahon tribunal. Mr Corcoran, he said, made contact with John Gallagher SC, counsel for the tribunal, and told him Mr Higgins had some information. Mr Corcoran told The Irish Times yesterday he may have called Mr Gallagher so as to introduce Mr Higgins to him. Mr Higgins said he then met Mr Gallagher and reported what he had been told.
Mr Higgins said he contacted the tribunal again recently when he heard the Quarryvale module was to be held, as he wanted to be given a copy of any statement from him that might be in the tribunal's possession. However, he was told the tribunal had not drafted a statement from his comments to it.
He said he had not mentioned the matter in October of last year, during the controversy over payments to Mr Ahern, as he spends much of his time in Europe. He thought it was a matter for the tribunal.
Mr Higgins also said that when he mentioned the matter when talking with property developer Tom Gilmartin in 2005, he discovered that Mr Gilmartin already knew "chapter and verse" about the matter. He did not know who had told him, he said. Mr Gilmartin will be a key witness during the Quarryvale module.
Mr Higgins did not know if Mr Fallon had ever contacted the tribunal. A spokesman for Fine Gael said Mr Kenny would not be commenting on the matter.