PDs break silence with ‘get real’ ethics jibe

THE PDs finally broke cover last night and launched a scathing attack on opposition leaders who branded them moral pygmies over the wave of sleaze allegations rocking Bertie Ahern’s premiership.

After six days of self-imposed silence by the party, Health Minister of State Tim O’Malley told Fine Gael and Labour to “get real” on political ethics and insisted the PDs had never claimed to Fianna Fáil’s “watchdog”.

The intervention was seen as the clearest signal yet the Coalition will survive the crisis provoked by questions over Mr Ahern’s financial conduct which had threatened to destroy it.