Money used for Haughey's benefit

Mr Charles Haughey has accepted that he benefited from a bank account into which six Dunnes Stores cheques, worth £32,200 in total, were lodged in January 1987.

Counsel for the former Taoiseach, Mr Eoin McGonigal SC, said that his client had accepted that some of the monies from the Amiens account into which the cheques, made out to "bearer", were lodged had been "used for his benefit, although he did not know it at the time".

Mr McGonigal said: "We further accept that the `bearer' cheques went into the Amiens account". However, Mr Haughey himself did not put them there.

The tribunal also heard yesterday that Mr Haughey first met Mr Ben Dunne in 1986, some months before the general election in March the following year.

Mr Dunne said yesterday that he had instigated the meeting, which took place at Mr Haughey's home. "I wanted to meet him. I wanted to be introduced to him," he said.

They had had a cup of tea, he added, probably on a Saturday morning, as that was his day off. Mr Noel Fox had arranged the meeting and was the only other person present.

Mr Dunne said he had had no contact with the late Mr Des Traynor, Mr Haughey's personal financier, who controlled the Amiens account. The only time they had met was when they shook hands at one of the Haugheys' weddings.

In relation to the six Dunnes cheques credited in January 1987 to the Amiens account, Mr Dunne said it was possible he had given them to Mr Haughey. However, he could not recall doing so. "If I gave it, I believe I would remember."

He had no recollection of dealing with any politicians during the early part of 1987, in the runup to the election. However, he had met Mr Haughey a number of times in the previous year. "How many times in '86 I could not tell you."

Mr McGonigal told the tribunal that Mr Haughey would give evidence to say that he did not receive the six Amiens cheques from Mr Dunne.

Mr McGonigal asked Mr Dunne if he would accept Mr Haughey's evidence.

Mr Dunne replied: "I'd have to stick by what I said, which is there's a possibility. It could have been me. I have no recollection whatsoever."

Mr McGonigal: "In saying there was a possibility that you gave them to Mr Haughey, you are merely speculating as to one of many possibilities which could have happened."

Mr Dunne: "One of a number of options, yes."

Mr McGonigal: "So far as Mr Haughey is concerned, he will be saying that you did not give him those cheques. You understand that?"

Mr Dunne: "I understand that."