Ahern testimony:"It's the first opportunity in seven and a half years of being tormented about these issues that I have had a chance to come before the justices."
"It does seem unfair to me that if someone makes 20 allegations and 19 of them are nonsense, you come down to the 20th and I spend three years answering that. I just think it's unfair."
"Mr [ Tom] Gilmartin's allegations are not based on anything other than hearsay. He alleges he was told by Mr O'Callaghan that I received certain monies. On the basis of those false allegations I have been subject to an unprecedented attack on my integrity and honesty."
"After 10 years of inquiries there is no evidence I did anything wrong or engaged in any corrupt practice. This is not surprising as I never took a bribe or abused the public trust in the discharge of my duties as a politician. After 10 years of inquiry by this tribunal, not one person has ever stated to this tribunal that I was paid a sum of $45,000 or any similar sum of US dollars. Not one bank official in AIB O'Connell Street recalls a $45,000 cash lodgement."
"Those transactions took place at a time of particular personal turmoil and upset for me and at a time when I was simultaneously attempting to discharge onerous public and party duties."
"I did not accept a bribe. I did not do anything for Owen O'Callaghan. I have done nothing improper. I have done no wrong and wronged no one."
"It took me months and considerable hardship and knee-bending to get the information required."
Key quotes: tribunal counsel Des O'Neill
"... Mr Ahern, it may assist with the conduct of the inquiry and the duration of the inquiry if, insofar as it's possible to do so, you can address the questions which are being put to you and answer those questions. I don't want to cut you short in your delivery, but if you are being asked a specific question, if it's capable of a specific response, the questioning of you will be certainly advanced or will certainly take a lesser period of time than if we have to canvass side issues . . ."
"You are here for the purposes of answering the questions which I must put to you through the tribunal, I am not here for the purposes of answering questions to you."