MR DUNNE agreed with Mr Denis McCullough SC, counsel for the tribunal, that Mr Haughey was a major figure in Irish 20th century history.
"I had tremendous respect for Mr Haughey. I continue in my own way to respect him for what he has done for Ireland," Mr Dunne said.
Asked if Mr Haughey was not also indebted to him in a serious way, he replied "I never saw it that way, sir." Pressed on the reason for his generosity, Mr Dunne said. "It would have crossed my mind on a personal basis it would not have been nice to see our prime minister in huge financial difficulties."
He said he took on himself the whole amount of money he understood Mr Haughey needed for confidential reasons, and presumed he would want it kept confidential. "I never thought I would end up here today," he said.
Asked about his personal relationship with Mr Haughey, Mr Dunne said he did not know him well up to 1987. Mr McCullough "But by the end of 1991 you felt you knew him well enough to call in. That would indicate some shift in the degree of familiarity?"
Mr Dunne said in the meantime he had met Mr Haughey 50 or 60 times.
"Did it cross your mind that Mr Haughey was going to end up very seriously compromised with such payments of such large amounts?" Mr McCullough asked. "It never occurred to me," Mr Dunne said.
Mr McCullough referred to difficulties the Dunnes Trust had with the Revenue Commissioners in the mid 1980s, when the terms of the trust were altered.
Had Mr Dunne discussed this with Mr Haughey, or had Mr Hnughey intervened with any government institution on behalf of Mr Dunne or his family? Mr Dunne said no. The matter was resolved completely and openly, by a decision of the Appeals Commissioners, in 1987.
"Is there any favour, grant or benefit of any description that you or Dunnes Stores derived from Mr Haughey?" "No, sir."