THE FORMER European commissioner and attorney general, David Byrne SC, is to appear before the Mahon tribunal today as part of its ongoing inquiry into the affairs of the former taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.
Mr Byrne has been mentioned recently in evidence in connection with the purchase of Mr Ahern's constituency centre, St Luke's, in late 1987 and early 1988.
He is also known to have been involved with events that occurred in the wake of the sudden death of Mr Ahern's friend and solicitor, Gerry Brennan, during the 1997 general election campaign.
However, his name was not listed on the tribunal's list of future witnesses until yesterday afternoon. It is not clear what he is going to be questioned about. Attempts to contact him yesterday were unsuccessful.
The tribunal heard recently that a report drafted by Mr Byrne and Mr Brennan during the 1997 general election, and outlining matters to do with how St Luke's was bought in 1987/1988, was found among other papers in St Luke's last month.
Mr Byrne is understood to have also played a role in matters that transpired in the wake of Mr Brennan's sudden death later during the course of the 1997 campaign. Mr Brennan had acted for both Mr Ahern and the man from whom Mr Ahern was renting his home, Manchester-based businessman Micheál Wall. After Mr Brennan's demise separate solicitors were used when Mr Ahern bought the house from Mr Wall.
The tribunal is investigating whether Mr Wall was acting as Mr Ahern's nominee when he, Mr Wall, originally bought the house in 1995. Mr Wall is to give evidence tomorrow and Friday.
Last week the tribunal heard evidence about the purchase of St Luke's. Mr Ahern's legal advisers have since then been in correspondence with the tribunal arguing that he should not be asked questions about St Luke's.
Mr Ahern's advisers are arguing that the purchase of St Luke's pre-dated the alleged payments to Mr Ahern that the tribunal is investigating and which Mr Ahern has denied receiving. The difference between the two sides is believed to have prevented Mr Ahern from being called to give evidence this week.
The tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon ruled last week that matters linked to St Luke's are within the remit of the tribunal's inquiry.
Mr Ahern's former partner, Celia Larkin, is to return to the witness box on Tuesday of next week.