Larkin evidence:Bertie Ahern parked outside AIB bank in O'Connell Street while his then partner, Celia Larkin, went inside to collect IR£50,000 cash, the tribunal was told yesterday.
The £50,000 had been transferred to Ms Larkin's account in December 1994 from Mr Ahern's account, to be available for general upgrading and decoration of the house in Beresford, Drumcondra, where Mr Ahern was to live, the Mahon tribunal heard.
However, in January 1995, the money was withdrawn in cash. At the time, Mr Ahern was in opposition.
Ms Larkin told counsel for the tribunal, Henry Murphy SC, that the money was withdrawn because the account in which it was placed was not easily accessible and also because Mr Ahern had asked for the money.
"Why did Mr Ahern ask you for the money back?" Mr Murphy asked.
"Ask him," Ms Larkin replied.
On further questioning, she said he didn't explain it to her and she did not ask.
However, Mr Murphy pointed out that in a previous interview with the tribunal, Ms Larkin had offered an explanation.
He read into the record that Ms Larkin said they needed access to cash to carry out work on the house.
"Because we were going to do it in piecemeal, as in, you know, buy curtains and to do this, that and the other, we took the money out to hold it in cash," Ms Larkin had said previously.
"Bertie dealt in cash, I think he felt more comfortable with it."
Ms Larkin said yesterday that she got a lift to the bank and collected a bag or parcel of money from a bank official. She had phoned to say she would be coming and he had it ready for her, she said. She carried the money out to the waiting car.
"My best recollection is that Bertie was in the car," she said. "My best recollection is that Bertie drove the car."
The two drove to St Luke's, where, Ms Larkin said, she believed Mr Ahern put the money in his safe. She said, however, that she could not remember.
"Your memory goes blank after arriving back at St Luke's, is it?" Mr Murphy asked.
He was interrupted by Ms Larkin's solicitor, Hugh Millar, who complained about the tone of the questioning.
"If you interpreted me as being disrespectful or discourteous in any way, I certainly didn't mean to," Mr Murphy said.
"I accept your apology," Ms Larkin replied.
Mr Murphy asked Ms Larkin why she had not recalled that the money was brought back to St Luke's in previous discussions or correspondence with the tribunal. "I didn't deliberately not volunteer it," she said. "I don't see how it changes the essence of the events."
She said she believed the money was eventually spent on improvements to the house.
Mr Murphy told the tribunal that Mr Ahern would say he bought stg£30,000 with part of the £50,000 to give to businessman Michael Wall. Ms Larkin said she knew nothing of that.
Mr Murphy also questioned Ms Larkin in relation to a lodgment to her account of stg£10,000 and IR£2,000 in June 1995. She said she was aware of the lodgment, but did not recall it.
"Can you explain not having a recollection of receiving £10,000 sterling cash from your partner at this time?" Mr Murphy asked.
Ms Larkin said she could not.
Mr Murphy drew her attention to a lodgment of £24,838.49 made to Mr Ahern's account on October 11th, 1994. He said on the same day Ms Larkin was in the bank making a giro credit transfer of £800 from her own account.
"It would appear you were in the branch on that date making the lodgment," he said. "Did you make the lodgment of £24,838.49 for Mr Ahern?" She said she did not.
