A Fianna Fáil fund-raiser, who told the Moriarty Tribunal that he thought Charles Haughey would have received cheques from admirers to use at his own discretion, subsequently withdrew the remark. Paul Kavanagh was trying to explain how thousands of pounds was lodged to the party leader's allowance account, during a fund-raising campaign for the late Brian Lenihan. He speculated that this might have accounted for some of the excess of £220,000 in the fund in the summer of 1989. Asked had he proof of this, he said "no", and when counsel for the tribunal said that he was merely muddying the waters for them, he withdrew the remark.
Mr. Kavanagh also said that in the few weeks around the election that year, over a £1.5m to £1.75m was raised. Mr Kavanagh also giving details of how big business was contacted to contribute to the fund for Mr Lenihan's medical expenses. Mr Kavanagh is being asked about a document he gave to the tribunal, which lists people who were targeted as potential contributors. Last October, Mr Kavanagh told the tribunal that he definitely had not discussed the possibility of a contribution from the VHI with Charles Haughey. However, this morning he changed his evidence and said that he probably did discuss the matter with the former Taoiseach.
Counsel for the tribunal has been bringing Paul Kavanagh through the list. Asking him which potential contributors he personally contacted and what money they promised. The tribunal is trying to find out exactly how much money was given. Today, he has been giving details of several discussions the two men had. Ben Dunne features on the list, but his name has been crossed out. Mr Kavanagh said that Charles Haughey probably did this. When asked why, Mr Kavanagh said "when he did something like that you didn't ask why".
In relation to the VHI, which contributed £57,000 to the fund, Mr Kavanagh said that some of the members of the board of VHI would have been Fianna Fáil supporters. Seamus Tully, a director of a number of fishing companies in Killybegs, told the tribunal that Paul Kavanagh contacted him in 1989 told him that "the boss" was putting together a fund for Mr Lenihan and was he "alright" for £20,000. Mr Tully said that he was a long-time supporter of Fianna Fáil and admirer of Mr. Lenihan. He said that he withdrew a draft from his personal funds for £20,000. Some months later in the Dáil bar, Mr Lenihan thanked him personally for his contribution.
