The company used by Des Richardson to invoice Fianna Fáil for fees when he was operating as its chief fundraiser in the early 1990s did not file returns to the Companies Office, the tribunal heard. Colm Keenareports.
Des O'Neill SC, for the tribunal, said Willdover Ltd was purchased by Mr Richardson from a company formation firm, but no new directors were registered with the Companies Office, and no secretary, no shareholders, or no annual returns were registered. The company was struck off in 1999.
Mr O'Neill told Mr Richardson he could take it from him that there was nothing registered in the Companies Office at the time that showed Mr Richardson had a connection with Willdover.
"It didn't pay corporation tax, wasn't registered for VAT returns, isn't that right?" Mr O'Neill said.
Mr Richardson said he was advised at the time that the company was not "vatable".
Mr O'Neill said there was a detailed investigation into the company in 2003 concerning its status for the payment of VAT, the making of corporation tax returns, and other matters, during which Mr Richardson engaged a solicitor and KPMG accountants.
The company was involved in activity totalling £382,000, of which £137,000 was on behalf of Fianna Fáil.
Mr Richardson said the company was used to invoice Fianna Fáil and if he put more of his own money into the company, that was his business.
Mr Richardson said much of this turnover was inter-company loans. "Quite normal. You are talking here about something you know nothing about," he said to Mr O'Neill.
The tribunal heard that Willdover was overdrawn on December 22nd, 1993, when a cheque of that date from Fianna Fáil and signed by Bertie Ahern, was lodged to the account.
On the same day Mr Richardson wrote out a cheque to cash on the account, which was given to Mr Ahern.
The chairman, Judge Alan Mahon, said the cheque from Fianna Fáil enabled Mr Richardson to make the payment to Mr Ahern, and this was something the tribunal was inquiring into.
Mr Richardson said there was no connection between the two matters.