Taoiseach admits possibility of 'casual gathering' with Gilmartin
The Taoiseach has admitted the possibility that he did meet with developer Tom Gilmartin in Leinster House in 1989. However, he has said he has no recollection of it.
Mr Gilmartin had claimed demands for money were made of him after the meeting.
Bertie Ahern had previously told the tribunal that he firmly believed that he did not attend a meeting with Mr Gilmartin. However, today in the witness box he told the tribunal it was possible that an informal gathering could have taken place.
Mr Ahern said: "I object to the word 'meeting'. A causal gathering is not a meeting in the political sense. An informal gathering like that with a load of chit chat could have happened."
The Taoiseach accepts that Mary O'Rourke’s recollection of the encounter at Leinster house is probably correct. "That type of meeting could have happened," he said, "but do I recollect it? No, I don't."
