Fianna Fáil Cabinet, 1989
BERTIE AHERN
HE FAILED to truthfully explain the source of €65,000 which passed through accounts connected to him in the early to mid 1990s, according to the Mahon tribunal report.
Much of the explanation he provided about the source of substantial funds was “untrue”.
The tribunal concluded he owned his Drumcondra home at all times though he said he rented it for two years before buying it in 1997.
He knew the true source of some lodgements investigated by the tribunal but chose not to disclose their origin, the tribunal found.
RAY BURKE
HE WAS forced to resign as a government minister and was subsequently jailed on tax charges. The Flood tribunal (2002) found payments he received were corrupt including the receipt of £35,000 in connection with the granting of broadcast licence to Century Radio.
The tribunal found a payment he received in 1989 and witnessed by James Gogarty was not a political donation but to secure political support and was also corrupt.
He received a corrupt payment through the acquisition of his Swords, Co Dublin home. The report said the price did not reflect the market value and was given to him to ensure he used his political position to support the developers’ interests.
PÁDRAIG FLYNN
HE CORRUPTLY sought and received £50,000 in 1989 from Tom Gilmartin for the benefit of Fianna Fáil but used it “for his own personal benefit”, according to the Mahon report.
His account of how he handled the payment and other moneys was described as “astounding, incredible and untrue”.
He and his wife Dorothy held three non-resident accounts totalling £155,278, “none of the lodgements appeared to relate to the salary or income of Mr Flynn”.
ALBERT REYNOLDS
A REQUEST by the former taoiseach Mr Reynolds and then minister for finance Bertie Ahern to developer Owen O’Callaghan seeking a donation to Fianna Fáil in 1993, resulted in an £80,000 payment. It was “entirely inappropriate and was an abuse of political power and government authority”, the Mahon report said.
The behaviour in pressurising the businessman who was lobbying government to support a stadium project in Neilstown, Dublin was also described as “remarkable”.
The then taoiseach, Mr Reynolds, failed in 1992 when he was selecting his cabinet, to question Pádraig Flynn about the £50,000 payment to him, intended for the party.
CHARLIE HAUGHEY
THE MORIARTY tribunal (2006) said he received payments of £11.56 million between 1979 and 1996, and granted favours in return.
This included more than £2 million from businessman Ben Dunne, which the report linked to a substantial cut in a tax bill owed to the Revenue.
The McCracken tribunal (1997) said he gave untrue evidence under oath. His sworn statements were incredible, unbelievable and factually incorrect.
It said it was unacceptable for a taoiseachs lifestyle to be supported by gifts.
Haughey shrouded gifts in secret offshore accounts to hide them from Revenue Commissioners.