Taoiseach ‘too busy’ to meet over Rossport Five

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern is “too busy” to meet with councillors in Mayo to discuss the case of the five men imprisoned because of their opposition to the controversial Corrib gas pipeline.

Mayo County Council requested a meeting with Mr Ahern last month to see what could be done for the so-called Rossport Five - James P Philbin, Philip and Vincent McGrath, Willie Corduff, and Micheál Ó Seighin - who have now entered their fifth week in Dublin’s Cloverhill Prison.

The Taoiseach’s secretary recently acknowledged receipt of the request, but said Mr Ahern was “too busy to meet them at this time”.