Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has told the Mahon Tribunal that he was a close personal friend of the former NCB stockbroker Padraic O'Connor.
Bertie Ahern said he was surprised in 1993 to see that Mr O'Connor had given him £5,000 in a personal donation.
Mr Ahern also reacted to previous tribunal evidence from Mr O'Connor in which he said he was not a close personal friend of Mr Ahern and the donation he made was to his constituency and not him personally.
He said that during his time as chairman of NCB Mr O'Connor was in his office endlessly.
He said he knew him and his friends and family and even visited his house as well as attended many functions for him.
In an angry response Mr Ahern said, 'If years later he wants to disown me, doesn't know me, then that's his bloody business.'
Mr Ahern claimed that Padraic O'Connor gave him a personal donation of £5,000 in December of 1993, when his solicitor Gerry Brennan organised a collection for him in order to help pay his legal costs following his separation.
The tribunal has been adjourned for the evening.
Leaving the tribunal, Mr. Ahern said the inquiry process 'takes a lot out of you but you have to do it.'
Asked about cabinet colleagues who had come out in his defence, he said 'sometimes they are criticised if they don't.'
Ahern says he did not want fundraiser
Earlier this afternoon Mr Ahern said Gerry Brennan gave him the £22,500 collected in his office at St. Luke's in Drumcondra. He said he did not want to accept the money, but did so on the basis that he would pay it back.
He told the tribunal that he would rather if the money had not been collected in the first place and said he did not want his friends to organise a fundraiser for him late in 1993
Counsel for Mr Ahern Conor Maguire this morning accused the tribunal of having an agenda against his client. Chairman Judge Alan Mahon said Mr Ahern is not being treated any differently from any other witness.
Mr Ahern was answering questions today about a loan he received from the AIB on O'Connell Street in Dublin 14 years ago this week.
Much of the questioning has focused on a Savings Account declaration he signed in December 1993 which Mr Ahern says he has no recollection of signing.
Tribunal 'stitch-up', Ahern claims
Yesterday Mr Ahern accused the inquiry of trying to stitch him up after the tribunal legal team suggested that he may not be telling the truth about his personal finances.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche said the way in which the tribunal conducted its work yesterday was unacceptable in a civilised society.
Read about Bertie Ahern's evidence to the Mahon Tribunal in September.
Every effort made to co-operate - Ahern
Ahern to face third day at Mahon Tribunal
