During a third day of questioning at the Moriarty Tribunal, Charles Haughey has again asserted that Des Traynor managed his financial affairs during the 1970s, a time when Mr Haughey ran up huge banking debts. Tribunal lawyers asked him if that was the case then why was Mr Traynor not present at meetings Mr Haughey had had with the AIB to discuss his debts.
Once again the former Taoiseach's financial affairs were under the spotlight. His debts to banks in the 1970s and donations and gifts from businessmen a decade later. During his two hours of evidence this morning, Tribunal lawyers said that the documents they had examined gave the impression that he was the one who was dealing with the bank not Des Traynor. Mr Haughey disputed this, "the bank always wishes to deal with the number one suspect, the client" he said, but he insisted that he was too busy with politics to deal with his finances. The Tribunal heard that, by 1978, the former Taoiseach owed the bank £580,000. Tribunal lawyers presented detailed scrutiny of internal AIB memos, recording details of meetings and consultations with Charles Haughey over his huge debt and attempts to reduce it.
When Michael Smurfit took the stand this afternoon there was no talk of debts. There was a painting valued at £55,000 that Mr Smurfit decided to give Mr Haughey on the spur of the moment in 1990. Mr Smurfit told Mr Haughey he hoped it would become a family heirloom, he did not want it sold the next day. Mr Smurfit was asked about a £60,000 donation he made to Fianna Fáil at Charles Haughey's request which ended up in an Ansbacher account. "It is very sad", he said, "it's terrible."
