Larkin to appear at tribunal next month

CELIA LARKIN, the former partner of Bertie Ahern, is to appear at the Mahon tribunal next month, according to the tribunal’s website. Ms Larkin is due to appear on June 3rd, and is listed for one day.

It is likely she will be questioned about a loan of £30,000 given to her in 1993 to buy a house in Drumcondra in which three of her relatives lived. The money was loaned from the B/T account, an account into which funds raised for Mr Ahern and his constituency were lodged. Ms Larkin repaid the loan in January 2008, after the tribunal began investigating the matter.

The loan came to public attention when Mr Ahern gave evidence about the B/T account at the tribunal in February. Ms Larkin, who last appeared at Dublin Castle in September 2007, will give evidence after Manchester businessman Michael Wall.

Mr Wall, a friend of Mr Ahern’s who bought a house in Beresford, Drumcondra and rented it to Mr Ahern before selling it to him in 1997, is scheduled to appear for two days, on May 29th and 30th.

There is no set date for Mr Ahern’s appearance. He is one of only nine remaining witnesses due to attend the tribunal in relation to Quarryvale who have not already been given a definite date.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times