Finnegan trust documents may clarify Burke payments

Crucial documents which could shed light on payments to the politician Mr Ray Burke may become available to the tribunal following a court hearing in Guernsey today.

Lawyers for auctioneer Mr John Finnegan are due to apply to the court this morning for access to his trust documents in the Channel Islands. Mr Finnegan has claimed the administrators of his trust, Credit Suisse Trust, have refused to provide him with the documents. The trust controls an offshore company, Foxtown Investments, which was in receipt of more than £660,000 in payments arising from Irish land deals with the builders Brennan and McGowan. Foxtown contributed £10,000 to a payment of £60,000 made to Mr Burke in 1984.

The Guernsey trust documents may show whether Mr Finnegan was aware that his money was used to pay Mr Burke. The auctioneer has claimed he was "kept in the dark" but Brennan and McGowan say he was told money was being donated to Fianna Fβil.

Today's court action is taking place on foot of pressure from the tribunal, which has expressed scepticism at Mr Finnegan's claim that he does not control his own trust.

The proceedings could prove lengthy if Credit Suisse opts to contest Mr Finnegan's application.

Mr Finnegan said any contributions he made to Fianna Fβil were a mere "percentage" of the amount paid to Mr Burke by Brennan and McGowan. "I would never in my wildest imagination have thought of giving such a figure," he said.

Mr Finnegan insisted he never gave Brennan and McGowan's accountant, Mr Hugh Owens, approval to substitute another businessman's name for his own in the application for a loan on the Sandyford lands. This was "a figment" of Mr Owens's imagination, he claimed.

Mr Hayden asked him if he could give any reason why Mr Owens would compromise his professional standing by concealing the interest of a party.

Mr Finnegan said he couldn't.

Mr Finnegan claims £10,000 of his money was paid to Mr Ray Burke without his authorisation, and he has accused the Jersey solicitor who organised the payment, Mr Laurence Wheeler, of committing a fraud.

Mr Finnegan is expected to conclude his evidence today.