1989 polling day payments denied

Mr Charles Haughey stated "categorically" it was not correct that he had met Mr Mark Kavanagh on the morning of the 1989 general election and received £100,000 from him.

Mr John Coughlan SC, for the tribunal, asked Mr Haughey about evidence given by Mr Kavanagh, of the Dublin Docklands Development Co Ltd. Mr Kavanagh said he had visited Mr Haughey in Kinsealy at 9.30 a.m. on June 15th, 1989, and handed him a cheque for £25,000, intended for the Lenihan fund, and three drafts of £25,000 each made out to cash.

When Mr Coughlan explained how the drafts had been bought using company cheques, Mr Haughey said: "It all seems a bit dodgy to me."

He said he was "certain" he did not meet Mr Kavanagh on polling day. He would have been at the "little local school" in Kinsealy at 9.01 a.m. to cast his vote with his wife, Maureen. He also said he did not receive £100,000 from Mr Kavanagh at any other time.

Mr Coughlan said the three drafts went to Guinness & Mahon bank. Mr Haughey said he knew nothing of the matter. The cheque for £25,000 went into party funds at Mount Street, Dublin, and was recorded as coming by way of Mr Haughey. Mr Haughey said he couldn't recall anything to do with the cheque.

One of the drafts was lodged to Guinness & Mahon and the other two used to buy another draft for £50,000. This was then given to Fianna Fail party headquarters, recorded as having come via Mr Haughey, and believed to have originated from Dr Michael Smurfit. Mr Haughey said he knew nothing about any of this.

The tribunal has heard that £60,000 sterling was transferred from an offshore account controlled by Dr Smurfit to an Ansbacher account in London and that the details were given to a Smurfit executive, the late Mr David Austin, by the late Mr Des Traynor. Dr Smurfit has said the money was intended for Fianna Fail.

Mr Haughey said Mr Traynor "would never and never did collect money for Fianna Fail. It all seems a bit doubtful."

Asked how the drafts from Mr Kavanagh could have made their way to Guinness & Mahon, Mr Haughey said he "didn't go around touting bank drafts around the place".

Asked who had brought them to Guinness & Mahon bank then, Mr Haughey said the tribunal had "unfettered powers" and if it could not find out what happened then he could be of no help.

Tribunal registrar Mr Chris Lehane was reading evidence from Mr Haughey into the public record.