A day of drama and farce

IVOR CALLELY’S spectacular fall from high office was one of the most shambolic in recent political history.

The 24 hours of drama - and at times farce - leading up to his last minute resignation by fax began Wednesday when a furious Taoiseach Bertie Ahern decided against calling an emergency Cabinet meeting to sack Mr Callely due to the impending Budget statement that afternoon.

Mr Ahern then spoke to Mr Callely at 7pm, but could still not persuade him to stand down.

After sleeping on the matter, Mr Callely and the Taoiseach spoke again by telephone at 7.30am Thursday morning.

Again, Mr Callely refused to accept the inevitable and indicated he would not resign as Junior Transport Minister. The two men then had a third conversation at just before 9am when Mr Callely informed the Taoiseach he was faxing a letter of resignation to Mr Ahern’s constituency office in North Dublin.

Mr Ahern then decided to go ahead with the emergency Cabinet meeting he had called for 9.30am to sack the controversy-splattered minister.

The Cabinet was informed of the contents of the fax, but the Taoiseach refused to release the letter publicly last night.

A Government spokeswoman said the Callely letter: “Stated over and over again that he wasn’t doing this because he was guilty of anything.”