The former Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, has declined to comment on reports that he is going to sell Abbeville, his Georgian mansion at Kinsealy, Co Dublin, and his island, Inishvickillane, off Kerry, to meet legal costs incurred during the McCracken tribunal.
Mr Haughey has cut his staff at Kinsealy by half as he scales down what was described at the tribunal as his "lavish lifestyle".
He purchased Inishvickillane in the early 1980s and built a luxury stone house in which he spends his summer holidays. He used to reach it by helicopter or on his yacht, Celtic Mist. The island is now to be advertised for sale through international agents.
Mr Haughey is believed to be facing a six-figure bill from his legal team. On top of this, the McCracken tribunal will hold its final session later this month to fix costs.
Legal sources say it will be open to the tribunal to demand massive costs from Mr Haughey for misleading it over the payment of £1.3 million given to him by Mr Ben Dunne.
It was only in the late stages of the hearings that Mr Haughey admitted that he had received the money, having earlier denied any knowledge of the gift.
Meanwhile the tribunal investigators had to carry out expensive, exhaustive and detailed investigations both at home and abroad in an effort to unravel the money trail.
Mr Haughey also faces inquiries from the Revenue Commissioners about how he financed his lifestyle while on the relatively modest salary of a senior politician.
Asked by The Irish Times yesterday to comment on reports that he was selling off some of his properties, Mr Haughey said: "Good evening" and put down the phone.