Dunnes tribunal to reveal new facts regarding payments

NEW information about Dunnes Stores payments to politicians will emerge from the tribunal of inquiry when it proceeds, as planned, to take oral evidence from its first witness, Mr Ben Dunne, today.

The leading counsel for the tribunal, Mr Denis McCullough SC, will give a progress report on all matters under investigation in his opening statement, to be presented this morning.

There was no notification to the tribunal last night, however, that any interested parties would seek to have the public hearings adjourned because of the imminence of the general election.

The information to be revealed has not come into the public domain before, according to informed sources. It could not be established, however, whether the material relates to prominent personalities or to investigations of financial transactions.

The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, refused yesterday to become embroiled in the fresh political controversy surrounding the timing and order of appearance of witnesses at the tribunal in the countdown to the election.

The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Ahern, raised the matter yesterday, suggesting the election should not be called until the inquiry was over.

He expressed concern that Mr Bruton could be in a position to manipulate and exploit the tribunal for his own ends".

The Taoiseach could call the election "at a time that could well be suitable", Mr Ahern stated. "And the old game is get Ben Dunne in, get Charlie Haughey in, get a few other people who might be associated with Fianna Fail, close the shutters, get the hell out of here and let this be an election issue."

He went on to suggest that Mr Bruton could not have it two ways. He should either tell the tribunal what the position is and tell the eminent justice who deserves to know what the position is. Or we should have the entire tribunal seen out in public."

Responding to Mr Ahern, Mr Bruton said it has been known for the past two months that the tribunal would be opening its hearings around now. It was entirely independent as a body. It made its own decisions as to when it held its hearings, whom it heard, and for how long it held its hearings.

in was better not to get involved in trying to tell the tribunal how to do its work or trying to suggest motives for things that the tribunal did, he told journalists.

Suggesting there seemed to be something of a change of position by Mr Ahern and by Fianna Fail, the Taoiseach said the only thing he was disturbed about was some suggestions from some quarters in Fianna Fail. It felt the tribunal had somehow timed its opening this week to affect its ardfheis.

"I think any suggestion like that is entirely improper. The tribunal makes its decision independently and I don't think even an innuendo of that kind should have been made," he said.

He also stated that any witness who was making allegations could be challenged by counsel for the person against whom the allegations were being made "literally while he is in the witness box". They did not have to wait for weeks for the allegations to be rebutted.

It was thought unlikely last night that Fianna Fail, which has limited legal representation at the tribunal, would raise the controversy over the timing of its hearings with the chairman, Mr Justice Brian McCracken. It is understood that private soundings were taken on the matter last Friday.

The expectation that Mr Ben Dunne will name Mr Charles Haughey, former Taoiseach, as the intended beneficiary of £1.1 million in payments, was the dominant issue of discussion at the ardfheis at the weekend. The mood of delegates was subdued and uneasy.

Mr Ahern has denied reports that he had an acrimonious meeting about the payments allegations with Mr Haughey at his Kinsealy home last Christmas.