Loan repayment offered in 2006

Dave McKenna, one of the businessman who contributed to a £22,500 "dig-out" for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in 1993, said Mr Ahern never offered to repay the loan until after the matter became public in 2006.

Mr McKenna told the Mahon tribunal he was asked for £2,500 cash by former FF fundraiser Des Richardson and by the late Gerry Brennan, solicitor for Mr Ahern.

He said he was already aware that things weren't great for Mr Ahern. "He was sleeping above Drumcondra . . . so you can only assume things weren't great."

Counsel for the tribunal Des O'Neill SC, asked why he thought Mr Brennan and Mr Richardson had chosen him to make a contribution to the whip around.

"They knew me . . . they trusted me I expect," Mr McKenna said.

He said that he spoke to Mr Ahern on a couple of occasions after he made the contribution.

"The bones of the conversation would have been: 'I appreciate your help', and my answer would have been, 'no bother' ," Mr McKenna said.

On another occasion, he said he asked Mr Ahern how things were. "He said he hoped to be buying a house. I said I'm delighted for you."

Mr O'Neill asked if Mr Ahern tried to pay the loan back.

"He would have said . . . 'we must sort that thing out' and I'd have said, 'look it's all right'; 'grand, cool' ," he said.

"Can we be clear on this Mr McKenna?" Mr O'Neill asked. "Mr Ahern never offered the money back to you?"

"Correct," he replied.

© 2007 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times