But today three Dublin businessmen insisted that they gave a cash donation of £2,500 each to help pay the cost of Mr Ahern's marital separation.
The tribunal heard there is no documentary evidence to support the dig out payments.
But publican Charlie Chawke and former banker Jim Nugent testified that they paid the money with personal cash.
They said that this followed an approach by then Fianna Fáil fundraiser Des Richardson and the late solicitor Gerry Brennan, who told them separately that Mr Ahern had a problem with legal bills following his martial separation.
Both witnesses, along with businessman David McKenna, said they were told that Mr Ahern would only accept the money on condition it was loan.
All three men denied that Mr Ahern told them he would be using the money to buy property as he had already taken out a bank loan to pay the legal bills.
The tribunal heard that Mr Ahern repaid the money with interest by cheque after the payments became public in September last year.
But all three passed on the cheques the CARI charity run by Mrs Miriam Ahern.
Mr McKenna also said he rejected any suggestion it was him who leaked the payments story to the newspapers last year.
Chairman Judge Alan Mahon said there is no evidence yet as to the source of the leak.
