A number of ex-Fianna Fail ministers who served with Mr Haughey refused yesterday to discuss their attitude towards their former leader. Some said they thought it was inappropriate to do so while the Moriarty tribunal was still sitting, others would not take calls or did not return them. Among the former ministers who would not comment were Mr Ray MacSharry, who served as Minister for Agriculture from 1979 to 1981, as Tanaiste and Minister for Finance from March 1982 to December 1982 and as Minister for Finance from 1987 to 1989. He said he took a decision not to comment publicly on his political life when he retired from domestic politics six years ago.

Others ministers in Haughey-led governments who refused to comment were former Taoiseach Mr Albert Reynolds, Mrs Maire Geoghegan-Quinn (who writes, however, on the subject today in her column on page 14), and the current chief whip of Fianna Fail, Mr Seamus Brennan. Dr Martin O'Donoghue, Mr Haughey's former Education Minister, said he also would not comment but added: "I am not surprised."

Mr Paddy Power, who was Minister for Fisheries and Forestry from 1979 to 1981 and Minister for Defence from March 1982 to December 1982, said that Mr Haughey had never asked him to do anything that was wrong. "I was not part of the inner circle but I was never aware of any wrongdoing," he said.

He recalled a by-election canvass in Ballybofey, Co Donegal. "A group of children came out from the local church after receiving their confirmation. Mr Haughey turned to me and said: `Paddy I don't carry money. Look after them'."