Majority believes Dunne - poll

A CLEAR majority of voters - 65 per cent believe Mr Ben Dunne's evidence to the Dunnes Stores tribunal that he paid more than £1 million to former Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, according to the latest Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll. Only 8 per cent believe Mr Haughey's version of events, as outlined in writing to the McCracken tribunal. He has denied receiving any money.

The Fianna Fail party is perceived to be most damaged by the evidence to the tribunal to date relating to personal, business or political payments made by Dunnes Stores to members, or former members, of the three main parties.

A firm majority of 63 per cent of respondents feel that Fianna Fail will be damaged by the evidence about Dunnes Stores payments; 52 per cent believe that Fine Gael will be damaged; and 36 per cent think that the Labour Party will be damaged.

Today's poll was conducted among a national quota sample of 1,000 electors at 100 sampling points throughout all constituencies last Saturday, May 3rd, and Monday, May 5th, after the conclusion of the first phase of oral evidence to the Dunnes payments tribunal.

Two questions, relating to the credibility of statements and the perception of political damage, were put to respondents about the tribunal.

In the first, it was pointed out that Mr $en Dunne has alleged that he paid more than £1 million to Mr Haughey. Mr Haughey has written to the tribunal denying that he received any money. Whose version of events was believed? In the second, respondents were asked to what extent they felt that Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Labour Party - the three parties whose members, or former members, received monies from Dunnes Stores - would be damaged by the evidence to the tribunal.

The poll shows that 65 per cent off voters believe Mr Dunne's version of events; 8 per cent believe Mr Haughey's; 14 per cent believe neither and 13 per cent had no opinion.

On a party breakdown, 62 per cent of Fianna Fail supporters, 74 per cent of Fine Gael supporters, 74 per cent of Labour supporters, 71 per cent of Progressive Democrat supporters and 71 per cent of Others believe Mr Dunne's evidence. Correspondingly, 12 per cent of Fianna Fail voters, 7 per cent of Fine Gael and Labour voters, 3 per cent of PD voters and 3 per cent of Others believe Mr Haughey.

On the perception of damage to parties, 63 per cent of respondents think that Fianna Fail will be damaged by the evidence to the tribunal; 21 per cent believe that Fianna Fail will not be damaged; and 16 per cent don't know. A majority of Fianna Fail supporters - 59 per cent - also feel the party will be damaged.

Following the appearance by the Taoiseach and several Fine Gael Ministers at the tribunal, 52 per cent of respondents feel that Fine Gael will be damaged by the evidence; 27 per cent think Fine Gael will not be damaged; and 21 per cent don't know. Some 46 per cent of Fine Gael supporters also believe the party will be damaged.

Turning to the Labour Party, 36 per cent of respondents feel that the tribunal's evidence will damage the party; 41 per cent think it will not be damaged; and 23 per cent don't know. Some 29 per cent of Labour supporters believe the party will be damaged.