Last, anguished throw of the dice was to no avail

The Government could only stand by and watch as Billy Burke died, says Paul O’Brien.

IN late April, Anne Foley, neighbour and long-time friend of the Burke family, arranged for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to come and see Billy personally at his home in Killorglin, Co Kerry.

“I needed Bertie Ahern to meet Billy Burke,” she said. “I feel anybody who went into the room to meet him came out a different person.”