Stockbroker Pádraig O'Connor said today that the suggestion he made a £5,000 donation to Bertie Ahern indirectly because it was a personal payment was "offensive".
In testimony to the Mahon tribunal, Mr O'Connor, a former managing director of NCB Stockbrokers, insisted the 1993 payment to Mr Ahern was a political contribution and not a personal one.
Mr O'Connor's contribution formed part of the so-called 'dig-out' to Mr Ahern of £22,500 in December 1993, which the Taoiseach said was made by "close friends".
However, Mr O'Connor insists the money was paid towards Mr Ahern's constituency operation following an unwelcome approach from fundraiser Des Richardson.
Mr O'Connor has said he was surprised to hear himself named amongst the friends of Mr Ahern who gave him money in 1993 as he believed this money was a political donation.
He said today he had a professional and friendly relationship with Mr Ahern, who was then Minister for Finance, but was not a friend of his.
Reacting to Mr O'Connor's evidence today, the Taoiseach said he had said in the past that the money given to him in 1993 had been raised by friends and he still said this was "exactly correct".
"I thought Padraig O'Connor was a real friend of mine and he has changed his mind. I can't do anything about that," he said.