FG complaint could lead to third Ahern inquiry

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern is likely to be facing a third separate investigation into his personal finances within 24 hours of arriving home from Africa today.

The Mahon Tribunal is investigating payments made to Mr Ahern in the 1990s, while the Revenue is assessing whether the Taoiseach owes tax from that period. Tomorrow, Fine Gael is expected to announce it is filing a complaint about Mr Ahern’s tax affairs to the State’s ethics watchdog, the Standards in Public Office Commission. That would leave Mr Ahern facing three separate inquiries into his personal finances.

Fine Gael has delayed announcing the complaint because it does not want to be seen moving against the Taoiseach while he is on state business abroad.