The Taoiseach has begun defamation proceedings against the Cork businessman, Denis O'Brien, who alleged earlier this year that he had made a payment to Mr Ahern of £50,000. The Taoiseach has strongly denied the claim, which has also been considered by the Flood Tribunal.
In April of this year, newspapers published allegations that Mr O'Brien, a Cork businessman with property interests, had made payments to two senior Fianna Fáil figures. It was subsequently alleged that one of those to whom the payments were made was the Taoiseach. It was also alleged that Mr O'Brien made the payment in the car park of the Burlington Hotel on the weekend of an All-Ireland final in the late Eighties. He claimed that he was doing a message for a developer.
At the time, and since, Bertie Ahern has categorically denied that he received any such payment. He also called on Mr O'Brien to retract the allegations but the Cork businessman has to date not done so. Denis O'Brien also promised to produce documentary evidence to support his claims and the Flood Tribunal has issued orders against him seeking such evidence. So far no evidence has appeared. In the meantime the Taoiseach has made a statement to the Tribunal.
