Two accounts opened for 1992 election campaign

DRUMCONDRA BANK ACCOUNTS:TWO ACCOUNTS were set up in a Drumcondra bank in 1992, both to hold the proceeds of election fundraising, one by a St Luke's trustee and one by the official cumann treasurer, the tribunal was told yesterday.

The accounts were both opened in AIB Drumcondra on November 13th, 1992, counsel for the tribunal Des O'Neill SC said.

The first account was named Tim Collins Fianna Fáil election current account and had an opening balance of £700.

The second account, FF election 1992 current account, was opened by Kathleen Kelly, joint treasurer to the Dublin Central constituency. Mr Collins, a trustee of Bertie Ahern's Drumcondra office St Luke's, said he "didn't know that lady at all" and did not know why two similar accounts had been opened for the election.

Mr O'Neill SC asked him if he was a member of Fianna Fáil at the time.

"I was never an official member of Fianna Fáil," Mr Collins said. "I just helped during election time and at the beginning of the house, trying to get the house organised."

He said he never inquired of the constituency if an account had already been opened and he did not answer to the Dublin central constituency comhairle Dáil cheantair treasurers. He could not explain why there were two accounts, he said.

The tribunal was told that almost £30,000 was contained in the Collins account by December 1992, while the official's account had a deficit of £1,572. "The figures, Mr chairman, figures are not my forte," Mr Collins said.

Mr O'Neill asked why the constituency was in debt while Mr Collins's independent fundraising activities were in the black. "I can't explain that," he said.

Another account, known as the CODR account, after Cumann O'Donovan Rossa, was opened in January 1988. It was addressed to the secretary at 146 Drumcondra Road. At the time, Mr Ahern's office was at that address, above Fagan's Pub.

Mr O'Neill asked if CODR had anything to do with the account. Mr Collins said they were the same. However, Mr O'Neill pointed out that the cumann was based in Amien Street at the time and its secretary was Liam Cooper.

A lodgement of £22,955 was deposited to CODR on January 11th. Mr Collins said he did not know where the money came from. Mr O'Neill said that by July 1988, some £50,000 had gone into the CODR account.

He said St Luke's was purchased in 1988 for £56,000 and was held in trust for the "St Luke's Club". Mr Collins said it was the first time he had come across that.

Mr O'Neill asked Mr Collins where the money to purchase the house came from.

"The money came from about 24 or 25 people that got together to buy it," Mr Collins replied.

The tribunal was told that the CODR account also received three lodgements of £5,000, one each year from March 1990 to February 1992, all donations from the same individual.

"There must be some explanation as to why it was that this particular individual's cheques were treated in this manner," Mr O'Neill said.

"I'm sure the person that supplied three cheques could give an explanation . . . maybe they wanted it for the house," Mr Collins said.

Mr O'Neill said that in January 1990, more than £12,000 was transferred from a 1989 election account to the CODR account and it had greater available resources than any other cumann in Dublin.