Charles Haughey's former personal secretary has told the Moriarty Tribunal she believes the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern would have considered as "normal", payments to an exclusive Dublin restaurant from the party leaders account. Eileen Foy also told the tribunal that Fianna Fáil cabinet members regularly lunched at the same restaurant, Le Coq Hardi in Dublin. She added that Le Coq Hardi was used by various members of Fianna Fáil to entertain foreign and Irish guests.
Ms Foy confirmed evidence given previously by Mr Ahern that he regularly pre-signed cheques from the Party Leader’s Account. She said that she would regularly leave a cheque book on his desk to be signed as he was often out of the office and difficult to track down. She added, however that she would often give Mr Ahern explanations for blank cheques he signed.
Earlier today, Larry Goodman complained to the Moriarty Tribunal about evidence given several months ago. Mr Goodman was called to answer questions concerning a donation he made of £25,000 towards Brian Lenihan's medical expenses. However, a visibly angry Mr Goodman took the opportunity to comment on previous evidence, which he said was "wrong."
Last May, insurance broker Mike Murphy mentioned the Goodman Group when giving evidence of a £100,000 payment to Celtic helicopters. Mr Murphy raised the money to keep the helicopter firm in business. In evidence Mr Murphy said that the Goodman Group was one of his biggest clients and at a later stage he said would have been naive to think his business would not have suffered if he was the man who pulled the plug on Celtic Helicopters.
In the witness box today, Mr Goodman was most anxious to state that he never had any investment in Celtic Helicopters either directly or indirectly. Before he left the witness box, and without being asked he added that he never had “any discussions or investments with Mr Traynor, or meetings with him either".
On the Brian Lenihan donation, Larry Goodman said that he was contacted by the later Peter Hanley to make a contribution. He cannot recall who told him how the cheque should be made out. Mr Goodman's donation of £25,000 was written out to the party leadership fund. He said he does not recall receiving any confirmation of the donation nor does he remember being thanked by Mr Lenihan.
