The statement and answers given to the Dail by Mr Ray Burke in September 1997 were made in the raw heat of a highly emotional personal trauma and political trauma which he was going through at the time, the former Minister for Foreign Affairs told the tribunal yesterday.
Answering questions by the tribunal lawyer about the Dail statement and answers, Mr Burke said if he was incorrect in some detail, he regretted that but the broad thrust of the statement and the answers in the question and answer session were correct. Mr John Gallagher SC, for the tribunal, asked him about references in his statement to contributions, particularly a reference to a contribution he made of £7,000 to his local constituency party during the June 1989 general election and that it was broken down into two drafts.
Mr Burke said in his statement to the Dail that he inadvertently used the word drafts when it should have been monies. If he misled the House in relation to that, it was unintentional. "I gave the statement and answered in a unique way in Leinster House for an hour on my feet in relation to a personal statement. This had never happened before in the history of the State that a member was asked to give a question-and-answer session for an hour on a personal statement," he said.
He had tried to be as helpful as he possibly could be to the House.
"If I was incorrect in some detail it is a matter which is of regret to me, but the broad thrust of the statement and the questions and answers is correct and I tried to be as helpful as I possibly could be to the members of the House." Mr Burke went on to say: "It was a very trying period in my life and was not in the calmness of this tribunal under these circumstances with two years' hindsight. It was done in the raw heat of a highly emotional personal trauma and political trauma which I was going through at that time."
Mr Gallagher asked if he had in his Dail statement said on a number of occasions that the contribution was entirely in cash. Mr Burke said he had, but he had clarified that at the tribunal the previous day. It was partly in cash and partly by £10,000 cheque to cash.
Mr Gallagher said Mr Burke said in his statement that he had contributed £10,000 to the Fianna Fail national organisation during the campaign. Mr Gallagher said he implied that of £30,000 he received, he gave £10,000 to the Fianna Fail organisation.
Mr Burke said: "I can't be responsible for how you interpret it. The statement is . . . I confirm that I contributed £10,000 to the Fianna Fail national organisation during that election campaign." The chairman asked if that £10,000 was one third of the £30,000 which came from Mr Gogarty. Mr Burke said: "I understand what he [Mr Gallagher] was suggesting. That wasn't what I said in the House. It would be incorrect as it was from a different source. You [chairman] advised me this morning not to mention the source." Mr Burke accepted it could be an interpretation.
Mr Gallagher said Mr Burke said in his Dail statement that in addition to handing over £10,000 to the national campaign, he handed £7,000 over to his local constituency organisation during the 1989 general election campaign. Mr Burke had said the £7,000 was made up in two drafts, one £5,000 and one £2,000.
Mr Burke said it was inadvertent. He had since clarified it. The £7,000 would have been an understatement of his work with the constituency at that time. The word draft was incorrect.