Bertie dodges as Government stands firm on SARS

Mary Dundon, Jim Morahan and Dan Collins

Amid mounting opposition to the ruling, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday set a sprinting record of sorts when he gave the media the slip at the launch of the Irish Special Olympics Team.

Mr Ahern's rapid escape from a waiting group of reporters came as the President of the Irish Medical Organisation, Dr Joe Barry, said the Government's decision to ban certain Far Eastern teams from the Special Olympics was illogical and discriminatory.