Tribunal judge denies Ahern 'witch-hunt'
Judges investigating the personal finances of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern claimed today his lawyer had effectively branded them as crooks who were conducting a witch-hunt against him.
In an extraordinary row, Judge Alan Mahon accused Conor Maguire of undermining the Mahon Tribunal’s work by alleging it was biased against Mr Ahern.
Mr Maguire yesterday accused the public inquiry, which is probing planning corruption, of a needless intrusive trawl through the Taoiseach’s personal bank accounts without addressing corruption allegations made against him.
But a clearly furious Mr Mahon said today: “In effect you are saying that we are crooks, that we are conducting a witch-hunt, that we are out to do people in an unconstitutional and criminal way.”
He added: “You are saying in effect that we are corrupt. You are saying that we’re pursuing a twisted, illegal, corrupt frolic and that we’re conducting an agenda.”
Today’s hot-tempered exchanges took place during legal submissions before Mr Ahern resumed his evidence at Dublin Castle. Mr Mahon then said he was adjourning the tribunal for ten minutes “to cool down”.
Mr Maguire had previously claimed the tribunal’s lawyers were pursuing an agenda against his client, Mr Ahern.
Yesterday, he said: “Every day seems to yield the same intrusive inquiries, again and again, going further into details in relation to this man’s bank accounts and further and further away from the central allegations.”
Referring to the witnesses linked to the allegations against the Taoiseach, Mr Maguire added: “I don’t think the words (Tom) Gilmartin or (Owen) O’Callaghan have been mentioned once today.”
Mr Mahon said today that Mr Maguire’s comments alleging bias on the part of the tribunal were “disgraceful”.
In reply to Mr Mahon’s comments, Mr Maguire claimed the judge was putting words into his mouth which he had never uttered.
Mr Mahon went on to say that he and his two fellow judges at the tribunal had taken sworn oaths of office which were important to them.
Mr Mahon said he rejected any suggestion that he and his fellow judges were “acting in the pockets or under the control” of its lawyers.
Mr Ahern is currently taking a legal challenge against aspects of the inquiry’s work relating to him.
Opposition parties have protested that the Taoiseach’s High Court action will delay the work of the tribunal by at least six months.
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