Three high-level Fianna Fβil financial officials have told the Flood tribunal they had never heard of Mr Ernest Ottiwell's involvement in fund-raising on behalf of former minister Mr Ray Burke or the party.
The tribunal previously heard from builder Mr Joe McGowan that the late Mr Ottiwell handled funds raised by Mr McGowan and his colleague Mr Tom Brennan for Mr Ray Burke and Fianna Fβil through functions coinciding with race meetings in Ireland and England between 1972 and 1984.
Most of the money came from companies associated with the Brennan and McGowan company.
Mr Sean Fleming TD, who was financial controller for Fianna Fβil from 1982 to 1997, yesterday said he first heard of Mr Ottiwell last year and had "never heard of him at any stage while employed at head office".
Mr Roy Donovan, who has been involved in Fianna Fβil fundraising since the 1960s, said he had "never" heard of Mr Ottiwell's involvement in fund-raising efforts on behalf of Mr Burke/FF.
He said he only knew Mr Ottiwell from his involvement in property transactions. If Mr Ottiwell had been involved in fund-raising he (Mr Donovan) would have known about it, he said.
He said he "could not give direct evidence" of fund-raising outside the State, but this type of fund-raising was a "relatively recent" phenomenon.
Mr Hugh Dolan, financial controller for Fianna Fβil since February 1998, said he had questioned previous party financial controllers and fund-raisers and found no evidence of Mr Ottiwell's involvement in fund-raising. "None had heard of Mr Ottiwell in the context of Fianna Fβil," he said.
He said he had no entries in the party's cash receipts book about fund-raising from Mr Ottiwell. He said there were entries for a series of small contributions from Mr Brennan and Mr McGowan, which totalled around £5,000.
Mr Patrick Hanratty SC, for the tribunal, said the issues under inquiry in this part of the tribunal were payments to Mr Burke from Mr Brennan and Mr McGowan.
He said these payments were of £50,000 in 1982, £60,000 in 1984, and £15,000 in 1985
Meanwhile, Mr Justice Flood paid tribute to Mr Hanratty, who made his last public appearance at the tribunal yesterday .
Mr Justice Flood said Mr Hanratty was "committed, hardworking, and remarkably successful".
He praised Mr Hanratty as an "exceptionally fine practitioner" who had "established a reputation for unprecedented quality in cross-examination".
Mr Hanratty said the work had been an "uplifting, eye-opening experience".