A press gallery, swollen to capacity and flanking both sides of proceedings.

Pride of place, and with a central view on proceedings be the public gallery, therin populated by some 200 souls, citizens all, for whom this ‘urgent public inquiry’ grants audience.

Questioning of Mr. Ahern is preceded by a statement by the Tribunal Chairman, Judge Alan Mahon. He rejects accusations made by Bertie Ahern’s legal team yesterday, that his client’s rights were being violated. Bertie’s barrister McGuire SC reiterates the statement; Judge Keyes, angrily interjects upon Bertie’s defense saying, the barrister’s objections were inaccurate and offensive to the Tribunal.

After the ’shouting match’ has subsided, questioning of Mr. Ahern proceeds. O’Neill SC guides Mr. Ahern through alleged sums he received from various friends and associates in the 90s.

One member of the Tribunal of whom I am acquainted, Mrs. E., enthusiastically follows the Taoiseach’s explanations concerning money he received. Her skills as an accountant became apparent. Her interests follow the tax liability of the sums, sometimes significant, Mr. Ahern received. Were they tax liable? If so, has he fully accounted for his tax returns?

We stand. When Mahon, Faherty and Keyes sit, we sit.
We watch.

O’Neill: The reason you are here Mr. Ahern is in relation to a statement by Tom Gilmartin that Owen O’Callaghan had paid you sums of 50,000 and 30,000 between 1989 and 1992. Allegations which you have denied at all times, isn’t that so?

Ahern: Correct.

Mr. Ahern is hunched forward, a monitor hides his face from the gallery.

O’Neill: And in the course of our inquiries it became apparent that you had not operated any bank accounts between the years 1987 and 1993, isn’t that so?

Ahern: That’s so.

The press is dressed differently today. One woman is sporting brand new golden pumps. Charlie Bird has his swirly pink tie on. The Daily Mail reporter, looks dapper. Ursula Halligan’s hair is askew. Vincent Browne arrives late and takes his usual place in the press/public gallery. That gallery affords a good view of the screen and Bertie’s face.

O’Neill: And it became apparent in the course of that, that when you first started using a bank account, the lodgements to your account represented a proportion of approximately three times your net income at the time, isn’t that so?

Ahern: That’s correct.

O’Neill: Can you tell us Mr. Ahern why you did not open your own accounts. You were receiving three separate streams of income. One as TD, one as a minister and one as Lord Mayor of Dublin?

Ahern: Well put it this way, there was no reason I should.

O’Neill: Don’t you find it strange that you trained as an accountant yet you had no accounts?

Ahern: No.

After lunch, the woman from Cork, weighed down with Xmas shopping bags returned to her seat. Dave the young trainee barrister from Kings Inns sat next to me. He’s quiet, contemplative. Doesn’t say much.

We are all gathered when Bertie returns, he has an air about him. As he walks across to his PA and legal posse he opens up his face in a look to the gallery, he is clearly expecting to see someone.

The seconds tick by; he doesn’t find who he’s looking for. His face slips slightly. He glances a smile wink at no one and turns to his PA. She is a formidable looking woman (note to self, get her name).

Just before the hearing begins, the girl in front, a tidy package, turns and says:“There’s something about Bertie. Your heart just goes out to him.”

A group of businessmen in dark coats, scarves covering their silk ties troop in.

El Bertorino doesn’t see them as he takes the hot seat.

They begin by calling a photocopy onto the screens.

It is a document creating a special savings account (the forerunners to the SSIA) with AIB.

Tribunal techie staff enlarge the signature at the bottom of the photocopy.

It is Bertie’s.