Burke told bank he was going on business trip

Mr Ray Burke obtained travel funds under exchange control regulations by telling his local bank branch he was going on a business trip to the US, the tribunal has heard. In earlier evidence, the former minister said the trip concerned, which took place in 1972, was his honeymoon.

Mr John Delany, a former assistant manager at the Whitehall branch of the Bank of Ireland, told the tribunal yesterday he processed an application for moving funds under exchange control regulations for Mr Burke in November 1972. The amount was £1,000.

Mr Delany said he had a vague recollection that Mr Burke needed the funds. "I told him I couldn't give it to him under exchange control regulations, as I understood he was going on a holiday."

However, Mr Burke told the official he was going on a business trip, Mr Delany said. He then explained if that was the case he could apply to the Central Bank for the transfer of the funds.

An application was duly made, with the stated purpose of the trip being a business visit to Florida to view properties owned by Palm Beach Investments Properties Inc. Mr Delany said this information came from the customer.

Last month, Mr Burke told the tribunal he regularly breached exchange control regulations in the 1970s. Although he was aware of the regulations governing the movement of money, he never obtained the necessary permission when transferring money to or from his offshore accounts.

The form was dated on the day of his wedding in 1972 and he and his wife, Ann, were travelling to Florida and Mexico for their honeymoon. "It was money very well spent; she's still with me," he remarked. But he "might have had occasion" to view properties in Palm Beach.