Liars all – Except Bertie

Bertie Ahern has already effectively called the former director of NCB, Padraic O’Connor, a liar.

He has also turned on Fianna Fail fundraiser, Des Richardson for his part in preparing a dummy invoice to allegedly ‘hide’ the money given to Ahern by NCB (Irish Independent).

Now, in his increasing desperation, he has also effectively accused former CEO of the National Lottery, John Hynes, of lying.

Ahern, through a spokesperson, claims that the Department of Finance was not asked to approve the National Lottery’s decision to open exploratory talks between the National Lottery and a US-backed casino operator in the early 1990s (Irish Times, sub req’d).

The spokesperson said that the Department of Finance was “merely advised after the event” about the contacts between the State lottery and the casino company.

So, once again, nothing whatsoever to do with ‘innocent Bertie’, he only learned of the matter afterwards.

John Hynes is, however, adamant that he did get approval. “I’m standing over my claim that I did get ministerial approval I worked through the dept at all times, I was well known for that modus operandi.” (Morning Ireland, 3rd item).

Tantalizingly, Hynes added;

“I would have related to the dept on the matter and as I mentioned in the article there was a Mr. Robert White present at some of the meetings and I was well aware the he was well connected to Fianna Fail and I believe connected to deputy Ahern.”

Who is this Mr. White and what was his function at the meetings?