David Doyle, of the Doyle Hotel group, appeared before the the Moriarty Tribunal today. He said that he has no idea how money from his account in Guinness and Mahon Bank could have lodged into a loan account that his father had taken out for Charles Haughey. Mr. Haughey's former business partner Harry Boland said he had no knowledge of a loan account in the same bank, which was held jointly in his and Mr. Haughey's name.
David Doyle returned from Spain to give evidence at this Inquiry today. He said that, in the mid 80s, he decided to open an account in Guinness and Mahon, as he was concerned for his personal safety and he did not want too many people knowing about his financial affairs. Through Des Traynor, he opened a numbered bank account in Guinness and Mahon. He said that he rarely visited the actual premises, whenever Mr. Traynor would be in one of the Doyle Hotels, David would give him cheques, bank drafts and sometimes cash to lodge.
Mr. Doyle got statements from the bank every few months. At one point the statements were made out in dollars, not Irish pounds. He said that he was aware that his money could have been kept in London, or possibly in the Cayman Islands. He said he had no knowledge of how a total of £15,000 of his money was somehow linked to a loan account in the name of his father. Last week the Tribunal heard how the late P. V. Doyle opened this account for Charles Haughey's benefit. David Doyle said that he never paid any money to politicians.
Earlier today, Charles Haughey's former business partner, Harry Boland, told the Moriarty Tribunal that he had no knowledge of a loan account held jointly in his and Mr. Haughey's name in Guinness and Mahon Bank. Mr. Boland, who ran the accountancy firm, Haughey Boland, with the former Taoiseach, said that he had never heard of this account, until contacted recently by bank staff investigating old accounts on behalf of the Tribunal.
The loan account was always in the red, at one point a statement shows that a draft of £50,000 was made out to Mr. Boland. He said that he never received this money. He said that he was “absolutely surprised” to hear of the existence of this account, and says that he never held a bank account under the English version of his name, he always banked under the name Annraí Ó Beoláin.
The Tribunal sitting ended early today, as a witness failed to turn up at the last minute. Mr. Justice Moriarty said that it was unacceptable a number of people were not affording due courtesy to the Inquiry. He said that he would not hesitate to make abrupt orders if this continued. He also said that he would take this into consideration when costs were being awarded. Mr. Moriarty said that a number of people would have to "pull up their socks" or appropriate action would be taken.
