A former auditor to the Murphy Group, John Bates has spent the day in the witness box explaining why he recorded a payment to Ray Burke as an expense to enhance the value of lands. Mr Bates said he made the assumption that the money was spent for this purpose because he could not get an explanation from anyone in the company. The chartered accountant has denied that the £30,000 payment was "buried" in the accounts of the Murphy group of companies to cover up a bribe to Ray Burke.
The chairman of the tribunal, Mr Justice Feargus Flood, said he had hoped to complete this module before Christmas. However he said the time taken by some witnesses in providing statements, along with other factors, had led to the delay. The tribunal will make a statement on the work completed to date when the current module is finished in January. Mr Justice Flood also announced that future modules of the tribunal will be held in "discreet phases" and will be preceded by opening statements.
The tribunal has now adjourned until January 18, when it will re-open public sittings to complete the current inquiry into the payment to Ray Burke.
