Irish Times goes to town...

[gavinsblog]

The Irish Times have put together a veritable smorgasbord of data on the Tribunal today. They also managed to hint at the curious Beresford House purchase. They couch their terms very carefully, for obvious reasons, but it stands out that they are hinting at one thing: money laundering.

Ahern's solicitor, the late Gerry Brennan, acted for Wall when Wall purchased the house for £138,000. Wall took out a mortgage of £96,600. When stamp duty is included, Wall's contribution to the house purchase comes to approximately £50,000, a sum that arises at both ends of the house purchase story.

In January 1995, Ahern withdrew £50,000 from his accounts in AIB O'Connell Street.

In 1997, after the sudden death of Brennan, Ahern purchased the house from Wall for £180,000, which constituted a loss for Wall after costs. The men engaged separate solicitors for the transaction. The tribunal is expected to hear evidence later this year to the effect that Wall's solicitor lodged the net proceeds of the house sale to an account of Wall's in Galway on November 5th, 1997. A month later the sum of £50,000 was withdrawn from the account by Wall in cash. Wall has not been able to produce any records showing where the money went thereafter.

This strikes me as a novel way of cleaning money. Not that Ahern or Wall would ever do such a thing.

[gavinsblog]

The Editorial is also cutting: I am sure Ms Kennedy would not mind it being publicised for discussion?

Mr Ahern should name a date

THE CALL by Minister for Health Mary Harney and Minister for the Environment John Gormley for the Taoiseach to make a statement clarifying his position on the most recent revelations at the Mahon tribunal is the first public signal that all is not so comfortable inside this three or four-pronged Coalition Government. Ms Harney and Mr Gormley speak of public concern and the need to dispel public disquiet. But, it is well past the point of calling for another statement now.

There have been too many explanatory statements from the Taoiseach since this newspaper first published Colm Keena's story 18 months ago revealing that the Mahon tribunal was investigating payments of between €50,000-€100,000 by businessmen to Mr Ahern while he was minister for finance in the early 1990s. Some have been short; others have been long. Some have been in written affidavits; others verbally on oath. Some have been sound bites; others have been long articles. The seminal statement was made on the Bryan Dobson interview on RTÉ when the payments were presented as a dig-out from friends at a sad time in his personal life. There have been three or four other versions of that story ever since.

The deliberate strategy employed by Mr Ahern to confuse and confound his critics may have worked for some time. But a rubicon was crossed for many people after the recent sittings of the tribunal. Those inside Fianna Fáil learned to their surprise that party money had been used for personal reasons. That practice did not depart with the Haughey generation. What has lost Mr Ahern most credibility with the public, however, is the evidence given by Gráinne Carruth, his former constituency secretary. She was forced to acknowledge under oath that on the balance of probabilities she had lodged sterling monies into Mr Ahern's building society account.

These disclosures, taken together, have changed the political climate for the Taoiseach and his Coalition partners. Silence is seen as acquiescence. The total value of the lodgements and other transactions that have been queried by the Mahon tribunal in its public inquiries into Mr Ahern's finances to date adds up to more than £450,000 or €880,000 in today's values.

A statement will not suffice any longer. There is too much credibility lost. Ministers cannot step outside the door without being asked whether they support the latest twist or turn of Mr Ahern's saga. For the current generation of Fianna Fáil families, the Lenihans, Hanafins, Andrews and Cowens, loyalty to the leader is all. They are being compromised.

The time has come for Mr Ahern to name a date for his departure. He should be allowed the dignity of a valedictory address to the Joint Houses of Congress in the United States. He should lay claim to the historic part he played in the peace process in Northern Ireland. There is a danger that he could become the focal point for voters in the Lisbon Treaty referendum. Mr Ahern should name a date, sooner rather than later.

[bagel]

The Editorial is also cutting: I am sure Ms Kennedy would not mind it being publicised for discussion?

Mr Ahern should name a date

THE CALL by Minister for Health Mary Harney and Minister for the Environment John Gormley for the Taoiseach to make a statement clarifying his position on the most recent revelations at the Mahon tribunal is the first public signal that all is not so comfortable inside this three or four-pronged Coalition Government. Ms Harney and Mr Gormley speak of public concern and the need to dispel public disquiet. But, it is well past the point of calling for another statement now.

There have been too many explanatory statements from the Taoiseach since this newspaper first published Colm Keena's story 18 months ago revealing that the Mahon tribunal was investigating payments of between €50,000-€100,000 by businessmen to Mr Ahern while he was minister for finance in the early 1990s. Some have been short; others have been long. Some have been in written affidavits; others verbally on oath. Some have been sound bites; others have been long articles. The seminal statement was made on the Bryan Dobson interview on RTÉ when the payments were presented as a dig-out from friends at a sad time in his personal life. There have been three or four other versions of that story ever since.

The deliberate strategy employed by Mr Ahern to confuse and confound his critics may have worked for some time. But a rubicon was crossed for many people after the recent sittings of the tribunal. Those inside Fianna Fáil learned to their surprise that party money had been used for personal reasons. That practice did not depart with the Haughey generation. What has lost Mr Ahern most credibility with the public, however, is the evidence given by Gráinne Carruth, his former constituency secretary. She was forced to acknowledge under oath that on the balance of probabilities she had lodged sterling monies into Mr Ahern's building society account.

These disclosures, taken together, have changed the political climate for the Taoiseach and his Coalition partners. Silence is seen as acquiescence. The total value of the lodgements and other transactions that have been queried by the Mahon tribunal in its public inquiries into Mr Ahern's finances to date adds up to more than £450,000 or €880,000 in today's values.

A statement will not suffice any longer. There is too much credibility lost. Ministers cannot step outside the door without being asked whether they support the latest twist or turn of Mr Ahern's saga. For the current generation of Fianna Fáil families, the Lenihans, Hanafins, Andrews and Cowens, loyalty to the leader is all. They are being compromised.

The time has come for Mr Ahern to name a date for his departure. He should be allowed the dignity of a valedictory address to the Joint Houses of Congress in the United States. He should lay claim to the historic part he played in the peace process in Northern Ireland. There is a danger that he could become the focal point for voters in the Lisbon Treaty referendum. Mr Ahern should name a date, sooner rather than later.

no way, not in my name!
a non-tax compliant excuse for a taoiseach does not have the moral authority to represent me;

[richie268]

Show me the link!

[David Cochrane]

eh http://www.ireland.com!

[Supermanpolitician]

Thanks God someone has put paid to this myth of the common man and a few quid here and there!

[adamirer]

A very well phrased article, though he's been climing credit for the peace process for years now. We get it, you did your job, in this area you did it well, thats what you get paid f*** loads of money (and donations.. ) for. well done. Goodbye.

Or if you want to be eloquent...

"I have done the State some service..."

[constitutionus]

it shows how bad things have gotten when eoghan harris's best defence is basically he's not as big a crook as some of the other feckers!

the wall purchase is a matter of some conscern. IMO bert bought it using wall as a front. its the only logical explanation as to why wall would leave it to bert in the event of his death, or to berts kids in the event of berts death as stipulated in walls will.

drafted by berts solicitor.

i think these deals in connection with celias purchase could be the source of major upsets. after all if wall did front for bertie, why couldnt celia front for him as well?

the man of little means could have shed loads in other peoples names.

[MINISTER]

The Editorial is also cutting: I am sure Ms Kennedy would not mind it being publicised for discussion?

Mr Ahern should name a date

THE CALL by Minister for Health Mary Harney and Minister for the Environment John Gormley for the Taoiseach to make a statement clarifying his position on the most recent revelations at the Mahon tribunal is the first public signal that all is not so comfortable inside this three or four-pronged Coalition Government. Ms Harney and Mr Gormley speak of public concern and the need to dispel public disquiet. But, it is well past the point of calling for another statement now.

There have been too many explanatory statements from the Taoiseach since this newspaper first published Colm Keena's story 18 months ago revealing that the Mahon tribunal was investigating payments of between €50,000-€100,000 by businessmen to Mr Ahern while he was minister for finance in the early 1990s. Some have been short; others have been long. Some have been in written affidavits; others verbally on oath. Some have been sound bites; others have been long articles. The seminal statement was made on the Bryan Dobson interview on RTÉ when the payments were presented as a dig-out from friends at a sad time in his personal life. There have been three or four other versions of that story ever since.

The deliberate strategy employed by Mr Ahern to confuse and confound his critics may have worked for some time. But a rubicon was crossed for many people after the recent sittings of the tribunal. Those inside Fianna Fáil learned to their surprise that party money had been used for personal reasons. That practice did not depart with the Haughey generation. What has lost Mr Ahern most credibility with the public, however, is the evidence given by Gráinne Carruth, his former constituency secretary. She was forced to acknowledge under oath that on the balance of probabilities she had lodged sterling monies into Mr Ahern's building society account.

These disclosures, taken together, have changed the political climate for the Taoiseach and his Coalition partners. Silence is seen as acquiescence. The total value of the lodgements and other transactions that have been queried by the Mahon tribunal in its public inquiries into Mr Ahern's finances to date adds up to more than £450,000 or €880,000 in today's values.

A statement will not suffice any longer. There is too much credibility lost. Ministers cannot step outside the door without being asked whether they support the latest twist or turn of Mr Ahern's saga. For the current generation of Fianna Fáil families, the Lenihans, Hanafins, Andrews and Cowens, loyalty to the leader is all. They are being compromised.

The time has come for Mr Ahern to name a date for his departure. He should be allowed the dignity of a valedictory address to the Joint Houses of Congress in the United States. He should lay claim to the historic part he played in the peace process in Northern Ireland. There is a danger that he could become the focal point for voters in the Lisbon Treaty referendum. Mr Ahern should name a date, sooner rather than later.

no way, not in my name!
a non-tax compliant excuse for a taoiseach does not have the moral authority to represent me;

Ahern will not be speaking in my name in the US. I cannot condone a guy like him as a National leader. I do not believe any utterances from his mouth.

[spalpeen]

The Editorial is also cutting: I am sure Ms Kennedy would not mind it being publicised for discussion?

Mr Ahern should name a date

THE CALL by Minister for Health Mary Harney and Minister for the Environment John Gormley for the Taoiseach to make a statement clarifying his position on the most recent revelations at the Mahon tribunal is the first public signal that all is not so comfortable inside this three or four-pronged Coalition Government. Ms Harney and Mr Gormley speak of public concern and the need to dispel public disquiet. But, it is well past the point of calling for another statement now.

There have been too many explanatory statements from the Taoiseach since this newspaper first published Colm Keena's story 18 months ago revealing that the Mahon tribunal was investigating payments of between €50,000-€100,000 by businessmen to Mr Ahern while he was minister for finance in the early 1990s. Some have been short; others have been long. Some have been in written affidavits; others verbally on oath. Some have been sound bites; others have been long articles. The seminal statement was made on the Bryan Dobson interview on RTÉ when the payments were presented as a dig-out from friends at a sad time in his personal life. There have been three or four other versions of that story ever since.

The deliberate strategy employed by Mr Ahern to confuse and confound his critics may have worked for some time. But a rubicon was crossed for many people after the recent sittings of the tribunal. Those inside Fianna Fáil learned to their surprise that party money had been used for personal reasons. That practice did not depart with the Haughey generation. What has lost Mr Ahern most credibility with the public, however, is the evidence given by Gráinne Carruth, his former constituency secretary. She was forced to acknowledge under oath that on the balance of probabilities she had lodged sterling monies into Mr Ahern's building society account.

These disclosures, taken together, have changed the political climate for the Taoiseach and his Coalition partners. Silence is seen as acquiescence. The total value of the lodgements and other transactions that have been queried by the Mahon tribunal in its public inquiries into Mr Ahern's finances to date adds up to more than £450,000 or €880,000 in today's values.

A statement will not suffice any longer. There is too much credibility lost. Ministers cannot step outside the door without being asked whether they support the latest twist or turn of Mr Ahern's saga. For the current generation of Fianna Fáil families, the Lenihans, Hanafins, Andrews and Cowens, loyalty to the leader is all. They are being compromised.

The time has come for Mr Ahern to name a date for his departure. He should be allowed the dignity of a valedictory address to the Joint Houses of Congress in the United States. He should lay claim to the historic part he played in the peace process in Northern Ireland. There is a danger that he could become the focal point for voters in the Lisbon Treaty referendum. Mr Ahern should name a date, sooner rather than later.

no way, not in my name!
a non-tax compliant excuse for a taoiseach does not have the moral authority to represent me;

Ahern will not be speaking in my name in the US. I cannot condone a guy like him as a National leader. I do not believe any utterances from his mouth.

Nor shall he be speaking in my name. This argument is another of the "Ah Shure..." that is a root of whats wrong in attitudes to politics and accountability in Ireland. It should not factor into any decision on whatever he does in reply to justified queries for a statement to clarify and any possible consequences of such a statement.
He will not get much of a reception in the USA from Irish as his comments on Illegals and amnesty have been front page stuff in regional and national irish papers in the USA...
Nowhere to Run... Nowhere to hide..