Bertie checked out Burke before he joined Cabinet

THE FLOOD Tribunal’s damning verdict on Ray Burke again raises questions about Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s judgement in choosing one of his key lieutenants.

Mr Ahern yesterday conceded he regretted appointing the former North Dublin TD as Foreign Affairs Minister in his first Government in June 1997. But he also warned against too much hindsight being deployed in assessing the situation.

Mr Ahern said he had acted at all times on the basis of information in possession. He said that when he examined allegations of corruption made prior to Mr Burke’s appointment, he did not have the benefit of forensic legal and accountancy powers available to Mr Justice Flood.

However the Taoiseach’s reaction yesterday was in marked contrast to his angry defence of Mr Burke even after the latter’s resignation on October 7, 1997. Mr Burke’s decision to quit not just the cabinet but all of active politics was followed by the establishment of the Flood Tribunal with extended terms of reference.

But Mr Ahern angrily told the Dáil in October 1997: “In the case of Deputy Ray Burke, I see a much more sinister development. The persistent hounding of an honourable man who resigned his important position on the basis of innuendo and unproven allegations.

“Some who would class themselves as protectors of basic civil rights have harried and hounded this man without according him the basic right of due process,” the Taoiseach said at the time.

Mr Ahern appointed Mr Burke to his front bench as foreign affairs spokesman soon after his own election as FF leader in November 1994. When he became Taoiseach he sent another cabinet appointee, Dermot Ahern, to London to meet some people associated with the allegations. Partly on the basis of that report the Taoiseach went ahead with the Burke appointment on June 26, 1997.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr Ahern said he had set up the Flood and Moriarty Tribunals and was happy Mr Justice Flood had reached this stage. He said he was sending the report to the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Revenue Commissioners and the Director of Corporate Enforcement.

These could be expected to act upon the report’s findings. At the same time the Government had decided to appoint a Corruption Assets Bureau, which, like its criminal counterpart, would seek to recover the proceeds of corrupt actions.

The Taoiseach said people who benefited from corruption must be made to repay their ill-gotten gains and face criminal sanction. Mr Ahern also pledged to enact a law regulating lobbyists.