Ahern wins High Court challenge

5/8/2008 - 11:09:36 AM

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today won a High Court challenge to limit the work of a planning corruption inquiry in the 1990s.

A day after he left office, a court ruled that the Mahon Tribunal could not question the former Taoiseach over comments made in the Dáil.

The three judges also ruled that Mr Ahern had legal privilege concerning 150 documents relating to advice he was given by a banking expert.

Delivering the judgment, Mr Justice Peter Kelly said the tribunal was not entitled in law to proceed in questioning Mr Ahern over statements made in the Dáil.

“To do so would be a breach of the relevant article 15.13 in the constitution,” he said.

The judge added that he was satisfied that the applicant was entitled to litigation privilege in relation to the documents.

Mr Ahern was not in court for the short hearing.