Larkin account cash not revealed

Control of account:Taoiseach Bertie Ahern failed to tell the tribunal in 2005 that he controlled £50,000 in an account held by his then partner, Celia Larkin, the tribunal heard.

Mr Ahern said he transferred £28,000 and £22,000 to Ms Larkin's account in 1994. The first sum represented his savings from a special savings account while the latter amount was a "goodwill loan" from friends. Ms Larkin withdrew the money in December 1994.

However, Des O'Neill SC, for the tribunal, pointed out that, under a discovery order from the tribunal in November 2004, Mr Ahern was required to list all accounts for his benefit.

Mr O'Neill said that the account into which Ms Larkin put the money fell "four-square" with his obligations under the order.

The Taoiseach said that he did not have the documentation. It was in the name of Ms Larkin and for that reason he had referred, in a letter to the tribunal, to the fact that he had given her money.

He had discussed the matter with Ms Larkin at Christmas 2004 and from that point of view he thought that he had complied with his obligations.

Conor Maguire SC, for Mr Ahern, said there was an implication in Mr O'Neill's questions that his client had not complied with his obligations under the tribunal's affidavit of discovery.

Judge Mahon said there was no allegation of non-compliance. He asked why the account was included in Mr Ahern's affidavit.

Mr Ahern said the account was in Ms Larkin's name and he assumed that by referring to the money he was making the tribunal aware of it. He acknowledged that the money was his, even though it was in Ms Larkin's name.

Mr O'Neill said that, had the Taoiseach told the tribunal in January 2005 that there were a number of large cash transactions to his accounts for which the bank was unable to provide any details, this would have considerably reduced the timescale of the inquiry.

Mr Ahern said he did not know about this. He had employed an accountant to get his accounts in order. "I wasn't a company, I wasn't a sole trader, I wasn't a plc, so I hadn't got them."

Judge Mahon asked to what extent he was the beneficiary of the £50,000.

"Well, chairman, if I had died in between, whose money would it have been," Mr Ahern asked.

Judge Mahon: "Your executors would have been entitled to call upon it."

Mr Ahern: "I didn't have any executors."

Judge Mahon: "When you died you would have."

Mr Ahern: "I am glad I didn't, it would be complicated."

Mr Ahern said that between the time he was lord mayor in 1986 and 1993 he had saved over £50,000. This was a small amount, in his view. "Anyone doing an SSIA for the last five years would have saved half that amount, so I think for a person holding ministerial office it wasn't a lot."