In the midst of the Manchester pocketing which is causing all the palaver in Leinster House this evening, Vincent Browne asks tonight about how Bertie Ahern managed to save 50k in the years when his marriage ended when his salary was low, taxes were higher and maintenance had to be paid.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin did not get paid very much back at this time – a reason that Bertie gave for his ability to save in his interview on Tuesday. Where was this money saved? Why did he did not have his own bank account?
Where did Bertie live during the period from 1989 to 1995? Bertie lived in St. Lukes in Drumcondra? Did he pay a rent at this time? Could the accommodation given to him by the trust who purchased St. Luke’s be considered a benefit in kind?
More questions rather than answers…
I’m not sure i completely understand; what money is he supposed to have saved during this period? Is it not that he was in such financial dire straits that he had to get a bank loan?
The question I would ask is why he would accept money from friends on the basis of it being a loan when he already had a loan out with AIB? I mean by 1993 he was on a good wage in a very good job, it’s not like he couldn’t manage monthly repayments (and if he could not he was in the wrong office)
Ok I can’t get the transcript of tuesday’s interview but from memory Berties explanation of the figures goes like this…
Bertie saved 50k between 87/89 and 93 – this was wiped out in marriage settlement. 30k to wife and 20k to education fund? Legal fees needed to be paid – hence whipround by disciples.
The whipround was used to pay out loan he took out for this – but it is my understanding that this was a loan to pay off another loan.
Now from listening to Vincent this evening – the 50k is seen on statements as a straight lodgement into an account somewhere – no evidence of saving it – Vincent queried the lack of his own bank account at this time.