This week, the Quarryvale saga took its most bizarre and unexpected twist. A Cork businessman - so far not publicly named - has alleged that he paid two Fianna Fail politicians £50,000 each in September 1989 in connection with the project. He told the Sunday Business Post that the money was paid on behalf of Owen O'Callaghan and passed through the Cork branch of the Irish Nationwide Building Society.
Bertie Ahern, who last Monday acknowledged that he was one of the politicians linked to the alleged payments, has trenchantly denied receiving any money from the businessman or from O'Callaghan, for any purpose. The other politician, since retired, has also denied the allegation, and threatened to sue anyone who names him. The businessman says he has documentary proof, though he has yet to reveal this to the tribunal. Mr O'Callaghan has denied his allegations.