Ahern says HQ got no Dunnes cash in 10 years

THE Fianna Fail leader, Mr Ahern, has confirmed that the party, as recorded at its headquarters in Mount Street, received no funding from Mr Ben Dunne in respect of elections or otherwise over the past 10 years.

Mr Ahern gave more information about the three members of the parliamentary party who received donations from Dunnes Stores, which he described as "insignificant" earlier in the week.

One name received no payment as alleged in the Dail, Mr Ahern said, in an obvious reference to the apology offered by Mr Phil Hogan, chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, to the party's chief whip, Mr Dermot Ahern, in the Dail on Thursday. This allegation had now been withdrawn with an apology after detailed documentary evidence had now been produced to refute it, he added.

A second case, Mr Ahern said, involved an insignificant contribution via a sponsored event. A third case involved three contributions for the purposes of fighting three general elections and a local election.