Ahern admits regret over signing blank cheques

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern said yesterday he regretted signing blank cheques with which Charles Haughey used to steal money from taxpayers.

However, the Taoiseach insisted he stood by the lavish praise he heaped on Mr Haughey at his funeral when he called his disgraced former mentor “a patriot to his fingertips”.

The move prompted Labour leader Pat Rabbitte to brand the Taoiseach a “hypocrite” in light of the Moriarty Tribunal report finding Mr Haughey took the equivalent of €45 million in clandestine payments as he sold influence for cash.