Ahern to appear before tribunal next week

FORMER TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern is to appear before the Mahon tribunal next week, according to the tribunal’s website.

Mr Ahern is likely to be questioned about his personal accounts and his interest in accounts associated with the Dublin Central constituency and with his constituency office, St Luke’s in Drumcondra.

At his last appearance, Mr Ahern had mentioned the B/T account, opened at the Irish Permanent Building Society in Drumcondra by his friend and trustee of St Luke’s, Tim Collins. The tribunal had been told that B/T stood for “building trust”. However, bank staff said they had heard it referred to as the “Bertie/Tim” account.

He may also be questioned about the purchase of St Luke’s, which was bought by up to 25 Fianna Fáil supporters as the “St Luke’s Club” in 1988 and, according to legal documents produced at the tribunal this week, is held in trust for the party.

Tribunal counsel is also likely to ask Mr Ahern about sterling lodgements made on his behalf to his account in the then Irish Permanent Building Society in Drumcondra. The lodgements were made by Mr Ahern’s former secretary Gráinne Carruth, who took the stand in March and dramatically acknowledged she had carried out the sterling transactions.

Mr Ahern is listed to appear next Wednesday afternoon, and on Thursday and Friday. His evidence will follow that of his former partner Celia Larkin, who is due to give evidence on Tuesday.