I did not interfere with quarry planning says Ahern

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday strongly rejected any imputation that a letter sent in his name had interfered in the planning process.

While admitting that he had not seen nor signed a letter sent from his constituency office, St Luke's, to Roscommon County Council in November, Mr Ahern said he "took full responsibility as a public representative for the correspondence issued in my name".

The letter, stamped with the Taoiseach's signature, was addressed to the council's planning enforcement officer and requested the suspension of an enforcement order issued arising from unauthorised development at a quarry near Athleague, Co Roscommon.