Lenihan cheque lodged `inadvertently'

A cheque for £20,000 given to former Taoiseach Mr Charles Haughey for the medical expenses of the late Brian Lenihan in 1989 was "inadvertently" lodged to an account of Celtic Helicopters, the firm run by his son Ciaran, Mr Haughey said yesterday. Mr Haughey said the money was withdrawn on the same day it was lodged and some days later lodged in the Fianna Fail party leader's account, where contributions to the Lenihan fund were being held.

The statement by Mr Haughey is the second such statement he has issued concerning the Lenihan fund since it was first mentioned before the Moriarty tribunal on July 14th. The tribunal is investigating whether funds donated for Mr Lenihan were used to pay Mr Haughey's expenses.

In the one-page statement yesterday, Mr Haughey denied reports that he had diverted for his own use money subscribed for Mr Lenihan's medical expenses.

The £20,000 cheque, made out to Mr Haughey and dated June 7th, 1989, was given to him by Irish Permanent along with another cheque of the same date for £10,000. The second cheque was a political donation to Mr Haughey.

Mr Haughey said the two cheques were lodged to the Celtic Helicopters account on June 13th, 1989. "On the same day a cheque for £30,000 was drawn on the Celtic Helicopters account in Bank of Ireland Dublin Airport.

"An examination of the available bank records indicates that this cheque for £30,000 was in fact lodged to the party leader's account on the 20th June, 1989, in AIB Baggot Street. This was the same account to which the contributions to the Brian Lenihan fund were lodged. All of the above bank records are available to the Moriarty tribunal."

Evidence has been heard that both cheques were lodged to the Celtic Helicopters account at Dublin Airport that same day. Both were endorsed on the back by Mr Haughey.

Mr John Barnicle, a Celtic Helicopters director, told the tribunal two weeks ago that neither he nor his partner, Mr Ciaran Haughey, had any recollection of the two cheques. He believed the money may have been for the pre-booking of flying hours for Mr Charles Haughey, and was repaid when the pre-booking was cancelled.

Mr Lenihan's family have given the tribunal all the documentation it has in relation to his medical care. The VHI is also known to be co-operating with the tribunal.

In 1989, £200,000 in excess of the party leader's allowance for that year was lodged to the Fianna Fail party leader's account.