An AIB foreign exchange official has indicated to the Mahon tribunal that money lodged on behalf of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in a bank branch on O'Connell Street, Dublin, in December 1994 was probably $45,000. Martin Walland Alison Healyreport.
However, Rosemary Murtagh also agreed with counsel for the Taoiseach that the money could have been in sterling.
Ms Murtagh told counsel for the tribunal Des O'Neill that foreign exchange documentation or "narratives" drawn up in the branch showed that it had bought sterling only to the value of IR£1,921.53 on that day.
However, it also bought other currencies valued at £28,969.34 on the same day.
She said that if the documentation was accurate, it was most likely that the lodgment was $45,000.
The tribunal is investigating a lodgment of more than £28,700 made by the Taoiseach's former partner Celia Larkin, at the AIB branch in O'Connell Street, Dublin, in December 1994.
Mr Ahern has maintained that this money came from the stg£30,000 given to him by a Manchester-based businessman for the refurbishment of a rented house. He has denied ever receiving dollars.
The tribunal heard that for December 5th, 1994, AIB's central currency service had received from the O'Connell Street branch, in sterling or dollars, the Irish pounds sum of £29,254.97.
Mr O'Neill suggested yesterday that the application of up to 1,000 possible different exchange rates could not have converted, in £100 units, to that figure on that day .
He maintained that by using one particular rate the figure would have converted to $45,000.
However, counsel for the Taoiseach Colm Ó hOisín SC said that it could be proven mathematically, based on amounts sent back by a number of AIB branches to the currency service, that the lodgment in question had to be in sterling rather than in dollars.
He did not spell out in detail the basis for this calculation.
Meanwhile, yesterday's hearing also witnessed sharp exchanges between counsel for the tribunal and lawyers acting for Mr Ahern. Mr Ó hOisín accused the Mahon tribunal counsel of "pushing a particular agenda" and not being "even-handed".
The comments led to tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon warning Mr Ó hOisín about his "offensive" words.