Swiss firm given unexpected transfer to european union...

Mr Buckley claimed to have a source of funding from the EU's Objective One budget, cash meant to help the most impoverished communities within the European Union.

When he expressed an interest in buying an expensive new measuring device, known as a mass comparator, he had the choice of only two manufacturers, one inside the EU in Germany and the other outside, in Switzerland.

Yet on a visit to the Swiss factory, he told executives his purchase would be financed by Objective One cash.

Another expert, visiting the same factory weeks later to discuss a possible purchase, had the story relayed to him by executives who were amused by the irony.

The situation was investigated afterwards in 1999, at least two Euro-MPs exchanging letters on the subject.

It was denied that EU money was involved and that may have been an excuse by Mr Buckley to justify how he was able to raise large sums of cash so easily.