Ahern makes statement to Dail about his meetings with developer

Saturday/Sunday

The week began with a conflict between the Taoiseach and the British-based property developer Mr Tom Gilmartin in the controversy about his alleged payment of £50,000 to EU Commissioner Mr Padraig Flynn. The conflict arose over the number and content of their meetings and conversations in 1989. Mr Gilmartin said four meetings took place, while Mr Ahern could recall only one meeting, about two Dublin developments planned by Mr Gilmartin.

After 100 years, the Irish Amateur Swimming Association came to an end, convulsed by the sexual abuse suffered by children at the hands of some IASA personnel. There were heated exchanges as delegates expressed concern that some members of the executive of the new body, Swim Ireland, which replaces the IASA, were on the executive in 1993 when cases of abuse were under investigation.

Monday

The Tanaiste moved to qualify PD support for the Taoiseach for the first time since the Coalition was formed 19 months ago. After a meeting between Ms Harney and Mr Ahern at Government Buildings, at which he told her "all of the details as he knew them", her spokesman commented that "as of now, we have no reason not to believe him" about his recollection of the number of meetings with Mr Gilmartin. Mr Ahern, in regard to Mr Flynn, said it would be "helpful if the Commissioner said something, but that is a matter for the Commissioner".

Ms Harney said Mr Flynn's position was "impossible, quite honestly". Mr Flynn indicated he had no intention of resigning and as far as he was concerned it was "business as usual".

The former Democratic Left leader, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, replaces the former Labour Party leader, Mr Dick Spring, as foreign affairs spokesman and Mr De Rossa's three other party colleagues in the Dail have also been given high-profile positions.

Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams and the party's chief negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, did not turn up for a meeting with the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, about the upsurge in so-called punishment shootings and beatings. They sent less senior party members instead, Ms Bairbre de Brun and Mr Alex Maskey.

Tuesday

A 20-year-old man was fatally stabbed in Crumlin, Dublin. Mr Liam Thompson, from Firhouse, Tallaght, was stabbed in the chest and gardai were seeking three men seen leaving the area. The Taoiseach disclosed that he had had three meetings with Mr Gilmartin, not one as he had previously recalled. Mr Ahern told the Tanaiste about the other meetings following an overnight trawl through his ministerial diaries from 1986 to 1988. E television whether Asked if he had questioned Mr Padraig Flynn about the £50,000, Mr Ahern said Fianna Fail had made contact with him some time ago and the matter was in the domain of the tribunal.

An attempted bombing attack took place on a Catholic family in a largely Protestant area of Green island, Co Antrim. A pipe bomb was planted under their car but a warning was phoned to the Samaritans and the bomb was defused.

Wednesday

A 43-year-old man was shot dead outside his home in west Dublin in the second murder in the city in 24 hours. Mr Paschal Boland was shot six times in the chest while sitting in a car in the driveway of his home at Ashcroft Court, Mulhuddart. Gardai said it bore all the hallmarks of a gangland-type killing.

The IRA informer and author Mr Eamon Collins was found dead on the outskirts of Newry, Co Down, near his home. Some 15 people are believed to have been murdered because of the actions of the author of Killing Rage, the book about his involvement in the IRA.

The Progressive Democrats confirmed their continued support for the Government following the Taoiseach's statement to the Dail, in which he said he never asked Mr Gilmartin for a financial contribution "to Fianna Fail or to me".

Mr Gilmartin said Mr Ahern was correct when he said that he did not ask for a contribution. "He did not ask for a contribution, he asked if I had given one."

Thursday

The Moriarty tribunal revealed that £750,000 was lodged with AIB in early 1980 for clearing debts of £1.143 million which Mr Charles Haughey had with the bank. The funding came from a Guinness & Mahon bank in the name of the late Des Traynor, the personal financial adviser to Mr Haughey, but may not have belonged to Mr Traynor. The debt was settled just two weeks after Mr Haughey won a leadership battle in Fianna Fail and was elected Taoiseach. A further £250,000 was written off by the bank, which agreed the remaining £110,000 would be interest-free and cleared as a "matter of honour".

The tribunal was told that "it seems it was never cleared".

A community activist was found murdered in the village of Monasteraden, Co Sligo. It is believed that Mr Terry Madden (51) was shot in both legs. A former Army private was awarded £219,000 in the High Court for non-treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. Mr David McHugh (36) from East Wall, Dublin, claimed the disorder was as a result of a number of incidents when he was in the Army.