The Mahon tribunal resumes taking evidence concerning aspects of the personal finances of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today. The initial focus is expected to be on a substantial cash lodgement to AIB O'Connell Street, Dublin, in December 1994.
AIB foreign exchange expert Rosemary Murtagh, who gave evidence in July before the tribunal adjourned for the summer break, is expected to be further questioned about this lodgement of more than £28,700, made on his behalf by Mr Ahern's then partner, Celia Larkin.
Incomplete bank records indicate the lodgement was "probably" the result of the conversion of $45,000 into Irish pounds, Ms Murtagh told the tribunal in July. Mr Ahern has said the lodgement was £30,000 sterling cash he had been given by Manchester-based businessman Michael Wall.
In July, Ms Murtagh agreed with counsel for Mr Ahern that the lodgement "could" have been sterling. Colm Ó hOisín SC, for Mr Ahern, said it could be proven mathematically, based on amounts sent back by a number of AIB branches to the central AIB currency service, that the lodgement had to be in sterling rather than in dollars. However, he did not detail the basis for this assertion and may do so today.
During the hearings in July, counsel for the tribunal, Des O'Neill SC, questioned the extent to which AIB had sought to co-operate with the tribunal. The tribunal and the bank have been seeking more material from the bank's archives during the break.
It is not known if fresh material has been discovered or if Mr Ahern has added to his recall of the events surrounding the four lodgements which are the focus of the current hearings. The lodgements occurred in 1994 and 1995 and were all preceded by foreign exchange transactions.
A spokesman for Mr Ahern said he would not be commenting on the tribunal's inquiries other than at the tribunal. Mr Wall, who rented a house in Drumcondra to Mr Ahern before selling it to him, is to give evidence today after Ms Murtagh. It is not expected that he will be examined in detail about his arrangements with Mr Ahern concerning the house.
Ms Larkin, who was involved in a number of lodgements and withdrawals on Mr Ahern's behalf at the time, is scheduled to give evidence tomorrow. Mr Ahern is scheduled to give evidence on Thursday and Friday.
