Story of very legitimate public interest: Kennedy

THE editor of The Irish Times Geraldine Kennedy yesterday stood over her decision to publish the story that triggered the political crisis engulfing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

“I took the view that it was a matter of very legitimate public interest that the Taoiseach of the day had received monies from businessmen while he was Minister for Finance in 1993,” she told the Mahon Planning Tribunal.

“I took legal advice as we normally do on any contentious story every night. I decided it was my duty as editor to publish the story, but I regret any offence caused to the tribunal.”