Two significant matters were publicised yesterday in this newspaper's report on the money which Fianna Fail received in 1993 from an American investor, Mr Gerry Linzdon. First, there are the simple facts of the donation to the party by a man who was at the same time seeking to acquire an Irish passport in return for an investment in Irish industry. Second, is the revelation that Mr Ray Burke sought to secure an immunity deal in return for his sworn testimony to the Flood tribunal. And it may or may not turn out, in time, to be significant that Mr Burke subsequently decided not to testify as he had indicated once he learned that such immunity was not forthcoming.
Far from yesterday's report being a "load of lies" or a "ball of smoke" as the Taoiseach described it yesterday in the Dail, its essential facts in relation to the money were duly confirmed in what the Taoiseach had to say. Mr Linzdon opened three accounts in the ICC bank in 1991. Two were for his industrial investment. The third, jointly held with Mr Brian O'Carroll, who was involved in earlier passport brokering, existed only to hold the donation to Fianna Fail. The Irish Times report said that £10,000 was "diverted" from this account to Fianna Fail's account, then jointly under the control of the party leader and its treasurer, at the time Mr Ahern. Mr Ahern says it was "transferred" not "diverted". The Irish Times described the money as a donation. Mr Ahern says is was "a loan". A curious loan surely, in respect of which repayment has apparently neither been sought nor offered eight years later.
Put another way, Mr Linzdon seems to have felt it appropriate in order to secure his passport not just to put cash into the State but to put a separate amount into the Fianna Fail kitty as well. As The Irish Times reported yesterday, the money went through ICC bank. If Mr Ahern says it was "transferred" rather than "diverted", so be it. The bottom line is that Mr Linzdon's money ended up in Fianna Fail's accounts. It is not illegal, but shaking an extra £10,000 out of a passport investor for the party is not exactly uplifting. It is bad enough that the Government should have had to finance industrial enterprises in this fashion, without also arranging a benefit for the party. For all that, it is important to point out that at no stage has it been suggested or claimed that Mr Linzdon's money was used for anything other than party purposes.
Yet it is unlikely that Mr Ray Burke would have been shocked by Mr Linzdon's being made to feel that he ought to make a donation to Fianna Fail. A curious public is left wondering what it is about this matter that so actuated Mr Burke that he felt the Flood tribunal might be interested to know about it. No less, the public must wonder at Mr Burke's about-turn in his willingness to swear up at the tribunal. In time, perhaps, he may yet provide answers.