05/06/2008

Bertie Hedges Bets At Tribunal

Bertie Ahern has told the Mahon Tribunal that previously unaccounted for sterling lodgements into his account had come from winnings on the horses.

Mr Ahern was tasked with explaining lodgements of stg£15,000, which were revealed by his ex-secretary, Grainne Carruth, after tough questioning by Inquiry counsel, Des O'Neill.

Mr Ahern responded: "As is well-known publicly I am interested in horse racing and over the years I have placed bets on horse races," Mr Ahern said.

"Over the years I have won various sums of money. Some of these would have been paid in sterling."

Mr Ahern also admitted to a new stg£8,000 lodgment to his daughters' accounts, which he also claimed came from "winnings" at the races.

Then, when questioned about a further stg£13,000 deposit, Mr Ahern claimed he simply "forgot" about the lodgments, which he said he bought from his friend, Manchester businessman Tom Gilroe, who died four years ago.

Mr Ahern now accepts the fresh disclosures mean that he had IR£80,000 in savings at the time he accepted a IR£22,500 'dig-out' loan from eight friends in December 1993 to pay off a debt accrued from the break up of his former marriage worth €19,000.

(DW)


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