The former Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, broke down and wept when he was told in 1989 by his personal adviser that the only hope of Mr Brian Lenihan's survival was a liver transplant.
Ms Catherine Butler, the former adviser, said that she had been aware from the start of arrangements for a fund for Mr Lenihan's medical expenses in May 1989.
She met Mr Haughey in his Kinsealy home where she told him of Mr Lenihan's need for a liver transplant. She was sensitive about having certain information before the Lenihan family. She was not aware of the financial donors.
"Mr Haughey in his study in Kinsealy broke down and wept . . . Mr Haughey told me that it was his intention to gather some funds to send Brian to the Mayo Clinic for an assessment," Ms Butler said.
Mr Haughey asked her to contact Mr Paul Kavanagh, Fianna Fail fundraiser, about the matter. The estimate of how much was needed was around $300,000. Asked if she was aware that the VHI had paid £57,000, she said she was not.
Mr Jerry Healy SC, for the tribunal, asked her about Le Coq Hardi restaurant. Ms Butler said she arranged 5 per cent of Mr Haughey's engagements there.
She said the level of accounting was the same most years. The bills went to Ms Eileen Foy, who administered the leader's account. Some were personal to Mr Haughey, which, she understood, he reimbursed to Ms Foy.
When asked about the sum given to Mr John Ellis, Ms Butler said she had received a phone call at the end of 1989-early 1990, from a senior counsel whom she knew and who told her that Mr Ellis was to be made bankrupt that day and then lose his Dail seat. She phoned Mr Haughey at 7.45 a.m. and he later told her he had arranged a loan for Mr Ellis. She had said to Ms Foy that she thought she might be asked to draw a cheque.
Ms Butler said she knew it would be drawn on the leader's account. She thought that was perfectly in order as she thought it would be repaid into the account.
Mr Healy said that Mr Ellis had said he had no such arrangement with Mr Haughey. Did that surprise her? Ms Butler replied that she could not give an opinion.