Ben Dunne affidavit central to tribunal

AN AFFIDAVIT sworn by Mr Ben Duane for legal proceedings against the rest of the Duane family will be central to the tribunal of inquiry into the whole affair. It is this document which contains details of payments of £1.1 million and Mr Dunne's allegation that the ultimate beneficiary was a senior Fianna Fail political figure.

The affidavit was essentially Mr Ben Duane's response to the Price Waterhouse report, which was commissioned by his sister, Mrs Margaret Heffernan, after she took over the running of the group. However, it was never opened in court, as the case was settled, shortly after it began, with Mr Dunne receiving £100 million for his share in the company.

The affidavit gives details of payments made to London bank accounts. The bulk of the money went into accounts in the name of Mr John Furze, a Cayman Islands banker who helped the late Irish businessman, Mr Des Traynor, to establish Guinness & Mahon's operations in the Caymans.