Magnier to give evidence to tribunal

Mr John Magnier is expected to give evidence to the Moriarty tribunal in the near future concerning a £20,000 (€25,000) contribution he made towards the cost of medical treatment for the late Mr Brian Lenihan in 1989.

Advisers to Mr Magnier are conducting an inquiry and it has not yet been ruled out that the contribution was given in cash.

The payment was made following an approach from Mr Paul Kavanagh, the former Fianna Fail fund-raiser who was asked by Mr Charles Haughey to raise money for Mr Lenihan to receive a vital liver transplant in a US clinic.

However, it is not yet clear to whom the payment was handed. Mr Kavanagh told most donors to send their contributions to Mr Haughey's office in Government Buildings, and that cheques should be made out to the Fianna Fail party leader's fund.

Mr Magnier was contacted by the tribunal in April after Mr Kavanagh found a list in a box of documents in his home and handed it over to the tribunal. The list contains 16 names, 15 of which are people Mr Kavanagh described as supporters of Fianna Fail.

The figure 20 appeared opposite Mr Magnier's name on the list and Mr Magnier subsequently confirmed that he had made a £20,000 donation.

Mr Magnier and his Coolmore Stud were mentioned last year in the tribunal when it emerged a cheque from Coolmore to Dr Michael Dargan, for £10,000, had formed part of the start up capital of Celtic Helicopters in 1985.

Dr Dargan told the tribunal he had made no such investment in the company and was unable to say how his cheque came to be so used. He said he had an account with Ansbacher Cayman Ltd in the 1980s which he used to transfer money abroad. He did this by sending his cheques to the late Mr Des Traynor, in Guinness & Mahon bank. Dr Dargan lodged six cheques with Mr Traynor between January and March 1985, and one of them was used as part of the start up capital of the helicopter firm.

Dr Dargan, a former director of the Bank of Ireland and chairman of Aer Lingus, said he had not been aware that exchange control permission was then required for all movements of money abroad. He and his son received nomination fees from Coolmore. Mr Magnier, at the time, issued a statement saying he had never made any investment in Celtic Helicopters.