ST LUKE'S:IN HIS evidence to the Mahon tribunal in February Taoiseach Bertie Ahern praised the role played by his long-time associate Tim Collins in the purchase and development of St Luke's, Mr Ahern's Drumcondra constituency office.
Mr Ahern said the building was worth approximately €1.5 million and was held in trust "for the party". However, when Mr Collins came to give evidence in March, he seemed a lot less clear about who owns St Luke's.
At one stage Mr Collins said the £56,000 used to purchase St Luke's in May 1988 came from "24 or 25" people. At another time he said it came from "23 or 25" people. When tribunal counsel Des O'Neill SC asked if the money had been gathered into any particular account prior to the purchase, Mr Collins said: "I cannot answer that but I'm sure the accounts will show where that came from." Mr O'Neill responded: "Well, they don't, Mr Collins."
Mr Collins seemed unable to say who owned St Luke's, although he said he, along with two other surviving associates of Mr Ahern's, hold the property in trust. Mr Collins is named as a purchaser on the purchasing deed along with Des Richardson, the late Paddy Reilly, the late James Keane, and Joe Burke. The late Gerry Brennan acted as solicitor for the purchasers and Regina Brennan, secretary, also witnessed the deal.
Mr O'Neill read out to Mr Collins part of a declaration of trust signed by him at the time of the purchase. In the document, which was witnessed by Mr Brennan, the trustees state they are "not to hold the property for their own absolute use and benefit but upon the trust here and after declared and as directed by the settlors of the trust the St Luke's Club".
Asked what he knew about the club, Mr Collins replied: "The first time I've come across that, St Luke's Club, now. Reading that now."
He said Mr Brennan did all the legal work, and that he was sure that whoever took over Mr Brennan's practice after the solicitor's death could supply the information. Mr O'Neill asked Mr Collins if he'd ever seen an actual deed of trust where the settlors, that is the people who Mr Collins and Mr Ahern say put up the money for St Luke's, appointed Mr Collins and his associates as trustees. He said he was sure there was a legal document in some solicitor's office. It seemed from Mr O'Neill's questioning that no such document has as yet been given to the tribunal.
Mr Collins is a land scout who has over the years made substantial sums from land deals. In the 1990s he engaged the lobbyist, Frank Dunlop, to lobby for rezoning. Mr Dunlop has said he told him that councillors would have to be paid to secure their votes, but Mr Collins has denied this.