No sanctions against FF councillor who forged Taoiseach’s signature

NO action is to be taken against a Fianna Fáil councillor who has admitted producing and distributing a bogus letter, purporting to be signed by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, seeking support for him in the local election.

Fianna Fáil councillor and former Junior Minister Lorcan Allen yesterday said the letters were “distributed during the pressurised atmosphere of an intensive election campaign.”

He said: “I confirm that the signature of Mr Bertie Ahern TD was used without his consent or prior knowledge and that neither his staff, nor the staff of Fianna Fáil headquarters knew anything of this at any time.”