A former bank official has contradicted key evidence given by Ray Burke about his bank accounts. Tim McHale, who was Manager of the now closed AIB Bruton Street branch in London, said that the former Fianna Fáil Minister never held a current account there. This account has been described as the common denominator in a number of transactions being investigated by the Flood Tribunal. Ray Burke has referred to it a number of times when explaining where money came from, but the Tribunal could find no trace of it.
Today, the Manager of the branch, Tim McHale, said that he was absolutely satisfied Ray Burke never held a current account there. He said that the way he withdrew money from his Isle of Man account and had it sent to London would confirm this. Mr McHale said that he met Ray Burke at Cheltenham in 1982. He agrees that he helped him to open an Isle of Man bank account.
He said that he knew he was a leading figure in Irish politics and may have sanctioned cash withdrawals from other AIB branches during the Cheltenham festival. During cross-examination, he denied that he met Mr Burke in London one year earlier. Counsel for Mr Burke, Aidan Walsh, said that it was possible his memory had failed him as it had on other matters.
