The Margin was relieved to hear the lodgement to an account of Celtic Helicopters of £20,000 given to Charles Haughey in 1989 for inclusion in the medical fund for the late Brian Lenihan, was done "inadvertently".

A statement to this effect, under the heading, "Statement on behalf of Charles J Haughey", was released to the media recently but no contact number was given and it was not at all clear who had released the statement on the former Taoiseach's behalf. The Irish Times, being a responsible newspaper, set about checking the authenticity of the statement by sending a replying fax to the number quoted on top of the page of the fax received. Please contact this office, or words to that effect.

Some 10 minutes later the phone did indeed ring. It was Mr Haughey's solicitor to say the great man himself had been on to her, having received a fax from The Irish Times. Now there's a man who must miss his civil service.