The 'evidence' given by Collins leaves Ahern's own credibility in shreds. Collins explained away a £20K payment in August 1992 and a £10K payment in July 1995 as being the proceeds of Dublin Central golf classics. The Tribunal then produced (fantastic digging) a leaflet announcing Dublin Central's INAUGURAL golf classic in October 1997, FIVE years later. Collins was lost for words.

In September 1994, Collins withdrew £20K, apparently for Joe Burke to do building work on St. Luke's, but he didn't know whether Burke ever got it, it was just left around to be picked up, the work was never done. Collins said this £20K was then relodged in October. The Tribunal then presented him with more results of their digging. The £20K was immediately proceeded that day at the same branch by the conversion of exactly £20K sterling on a day at which the Punt and Sterling were exactly at parity. Collins couldn't deny the possibility of a link. His evidence was torn apart.

This all involves the 'B/T' account, which he and Ahern deny means 'Bertie/Tim' though admitting that the D/T account does mean 'Des (Richardson) and Tim.

This has blown the story concocted by these people wide open, the logical conclusion being that these funds were never FF funds, but a slush fund.

Oh, and all this time Dublin Central's actual account was either in the red, or close to it. And Tim Collins was never a FF member.

If I were one of the unpaid volunteers doing the slogging in the pouring rain for that constituency I'd now be taking a long hard look at the type of people I was working for, I wouldn't like the idea of my having been slapped on the back for my hard work while these f*ckers were laughing up their sleeves at me for my naivety..

plus the document that puports to prove that the original 5k that went into the Bertie-Tim a/c was a legitimate election donation from Davy's is undated and does not refer to any specific sum of money and was provided by Bertie's accountants.

__________________
I have opinions of my own - strong opinions - but I don't always agree with them. - George Bush

1. Collins did NOT claim that the monies were the proceeds of a DCC golf classic
2. The Sterling exchange took place AFTER the lodgement
3. There is no D/T bank account nor was there ever a D/T bank account.

I haven't had a chance to look at much of the recent goings on - was away.

but

is it getting down to the fact that the tribunal seems to be uncovering evidence that would indicate that BA was keeping FF monies for himself as distinct from evidence that would suggest BA received bribes from OOC as part of the development of Liffey Valley?

1. Semantics. Wriggling after being caught.
2. Transaction 54 that day was the exchange. Transaction 55 was the lodgment.
3. There is a D/T account. It was opened in 1991.

No, it's coming down to the fact that these were NEVER FF monies.

Well Tonys it was hard to know what Collins said but I think this is him agreeing that the monies were the proceeds of a golf classic. U agree?

"Q. 307 (Des O'Neill) I share that. But can you tell me what you know of there being a golf classic in 1992 and what its connection, if any, is with 19,000 pounds lodged to the account that we see here?

A. (Tim Collins) My view would be that it was a golf classic, they would normally one or two, two, I don't know, because I don't play golf, one or two a year and that's probably the proceeds of one of them or, I don't know, a golf classic there, you know. But I'm sure St. Luke's would be able to furnish you the details on that.

Q. 308 Now, whilst you may believe that they can, to date the Tribunal has not received any document showing that there was a golf classic in 1992 or that it produced these funds or that it is attributable to a lodgement to the B/T account?

A. Well I can only read what's there, you know, golf classic.

Q. 309 But what's here, Mr. Collins, is merely what the accountants, Price Waterhouse Cooper, have been told?

A. Yeah.

Q. 310 You are the person who made the lodgements to these accounts. And I am asking you whether or not you have any knowledge of there ever having been a golf classic in 1992?

A. I doubt there was a golf, there were golfs every year. I don't know what dates they were on because I don't, I never played golf but I cannot, you know, that's the best I can make on that one, you know. If it says a golf classic and that's what the accountants stated on their sheet, you know."

(Source www.mahontribunal.com/transcripts)

__________________
I have opinions of my own - strong opinions - but I don't always agree with them. - George Bush

Sorry but if Tonys says there's not D/T a/c then there's not one. :P

What is disdusting about this whole slimy affair is the hugh amounts of money these guys were moving around (in likkle bwown envelopes) and the ward boss posing as an ordinary bloke.

Then there are those who think the tribunal is a waste of money. Truth has no price, nor has justice. If Ms Flynn was made to pay the full whack to RTE which is funded by the taxpayer and she went bankrupt in the process then at least justice would have been done!

This crap about throwing money at problems or in this case claiming money wasting to fudge over justice should stop.

Tonys, read the Tribunal transcript at http://www.planningtribunal.ie/image...ONTENT_825.pdf

The account is called D/T?
19 A. That is written on it.
20 Q. 604 Yeah. Can you explain what that means, Mr. Collins? 15:14:50
21 A. Well I may not have filled that in. I signed it. The D/T obviously means Des
22 Richardson and Tim Collins.