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Read more about: Bertiegate, Corruption, Fianna Fail, Tribunals 
“Nothing New” says Bertie (Google News collection of articles on the story), is everyone inclined to believe him?
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Joan Burton and Labour are seekiung clarification;
“In 1996 Deputy Michael Lowry resigned from government following the disclosure that a multi-millionaire had paid for building work on his house. In this case the allegation appears to be that a multi-millionaire paid for legal bills incurred by Mr. Ahern in the early 1990s.
These allegations must be treated with some caution as we know that claims made in regard to payments to Mr. Ahern in the past proved to be unfounded.
However, notwithstanding that and also conscious of Mr. Ahern’s obligations to the Mahon Tribunal, I believe that it would be helpful if the Taoiseach now made a statement clarifying whether or not and such payments were made and, if so, the purposes of the payments.”
The problem with lowry was that it was done to avoid tax. Michael Lowry owned a refegerator company and his company installed fridges for Dunnes Stores. So instead of paying they build him an extension. It was a business arrangement.
However If Berties legal fees were payed I can’t see that as a simple dodgy business deal.
I believe him because I remember the 1999 Starry O’ Brien allegations which were proven to be utter rubbish. Also, Bertie has stated that the figure of €50,000-€100,000 is “off the wall”.
In the RTE story, Bertie goes for the common man references
But he said it was his own private business, which he did not have to explain to anyone, but that he had given the Tribunal all the information about his separation case at the time, about his legal fees and how he funded them.
Mr Ahern added that he was not answering what he got for his Holy Communion money, his confirmation money, or his birthday.
which probably is a foretaste of a more serious argument that whatever money was given was a gift. Any other interpretation will be problematic for him, but the tribunal will have to produce a quid pro quo for the makings of an actual scandal.
so how credible is it that someone with a long career at the top in politics hadnt got the ability to pay the fees in a legal separation
he held umpteen cabinet posts -pull the other one theres bells on it
Adultery is expensive & Celia might easily have cost Bertie €50,000!
A lot perhaps, but there is no such thing as a free haircut!
Remember that alimony is the screwing you get for the screwing you got.
he never married celia as far as I am aware SOS
Sorry Simon,
My comment was ambiguous.
I meant:-
To acquire the fair Celia – and the weekly make-over & haircut (latterly estimated to cost the taxpayers €400 per week) might easily have cost his benefactors in the Galway Tent €50,000.
Certainly, recent settlements have been stratospheric, if one is to believe the tabloids.
So is there one law of poor old Ivor Callely and another for Bertie? Wasn’t it Bertie who spoke about the appearance of impropriety not being acceptable or something along those lines for the highest in the land?
As for tax if someone not your family gives you money then would you have to pay tax on that gift. The current limit is €19,050 but would have been much lower when this gift was made.
hes protesting too much
why is he explaining himself everyday
what does it matter whether there was a leak from the tribunal if there is nothing of any consequence on him like he says
this is a guy with a skin like a rhino
Maybe it’s time all TDs took lie-detector tests in matters pertaining to the receipt of monies from developers/builders etc…
After all Bertie says he has nothing to hide…
Except the truth…maybe?
Some years ago, the late Don Charleone of Abbeville said that a politician will always tell a lie when confronted with a direct question that they don’t want to answer.
The reason being, one can always change a lie later & claim faulty recall.
QED.
Charlie Haughey and Seán Doherty had the right approach to the current Irish Times editor. Is there not an offence of being in contempt of a Tribunal? Surely this publishing of leaked evidence is a case of contempt because it undermines the ability of the tribunal to do its job and ensure justice in its deliberations.