The Taoiseach Mr Ahern was awarded £30,000 plus costs today in his defamation action against Cork businessman Mr Denis O'Brien.
It is the maximum award in the Circuit Civil Court, where Mr Ahern gave evidence today.
Mr O’Brien made allegations, which he later withdrew, that Mr Ahern accepted £50,000 from him in 1989 in a Dublin hotel car park after the All-Ireland football final.
In his ruling, Mr Justice John O'Higgins said Mr O'Brien's allegations were "utterly, completely and absolutely false and untrue".
He drew particular attention to comments made by Senator Maurice Manning, one of thirteen witnesses called by counsel for Mr Ahern, Mr Paul Gallagher.
Senator Manning, leader of the Fine Gael party in the Seanad, said the allegations had "monstrous consequences" for Mr Ahern’s political career.
"I can’t think of anything worse short of treason for a politician", he said.
Speaking after the ruling Mr Ahern said he was delighted his character had been vindicated.
Earlier Mr Ahern told the court in Dublin that Mr O'Brien's claims were "all lies" and that he was the victim of malicious and forged allegations.
He said he had not received £50,000, "not fifty pennies". "I’m not wealthy", he said. "I’ve never tried to make politics wealthy for me".
He said the allegations had damaged him personally and politically and that he had not received an apology from Mr O'Brien since the recent withdrawal of the allegations.
Mr O’Brien had privately alleged to the Flood tribunal that he gave Mr Ahern the money on behalf of a property developer to help get planning permission for the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre.
Mr Ahern arrived in Dublin to attend the court from the Northern Ireland peace talks in England.