Rift widens as queries remain unresolved

RELATIONS between the Coalition partners were close to breaking point last night over Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s failure to inform Tánaiste Michael McDowell about an Irish-born businessman who was present in a Manchester hotel when Mr Ahern received £8,000 (€12,000).

While Mr Ahern yesterday confirmed to the Dáil that he had paid “full market value” for the house he bought from Micheál Wall in 1997, the crisis between Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats was escalating last night.

It is believed that Mr McDowell was deeply unhappy when he heard of Mr Wall’s role in the affair on RTÉ on Wednesday night and refused to take Order of Business in the Dáil yesterday, a role normally performed by the Tánaiste.