'It is a lie'

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern last night showed uncharacteristic anger when dismissing allegations that he delayed the Flood Tribunal as "a lie".

In a statement, unusual for the emotion of its content and tone, he launched a blistering attack on a Sunday Independent article alleging he failed to furnish documents, describing it as "unfounded and absurd."

He departed from the script at one point to retort: "It is a lie."