Bertie changes his story

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern made a dramatic concession yesterday by accepting he could have met Tom Gilmartin with other senior Fianna Fáil ministers in the Dail in February 1989.

During marathon questioning, lasting almost five hours and involving bruising exchanges, Mr Ahern accepted he could have had a “chit-chat” encounter with Mr Gilmartin.

But Mr Ahern, in robust and occasionally impatient replies, contended he had not shifted his position.