Taoiseach: taking loan from friends ‘was not wrong’

FIGHTING back tears, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern last night claimed he took €50,000 from businessmen while Finance Minister partly for the sake of his daughters’ education.

The money came from 12 “close friends” in two payments in 1993 and 1994, Mr Ahern revealed as he was forced to fully explain his personal financial arrangement after days of stonewalling as speculation and allegations swirled around him.

Despite insisting the loans amounted to a “debt of honour” Mr Ahern has not repaid any of the money some 13 years later.