FG: Ahern switched tack to gain votes

BERTIE AHERN supported the controversial Phoenix Park casino project when he was finance minister only to change his mind “to gain votes” from residents who objected to the plans, Fine Gael claimed yesterday.

Earlier this week, it emerged Mr Ahern had helped to obtain a passport for American businessman Norman Turner, one of the key figures in the consortium behind the plans.

In April or May 1994, at the same time as the consortium was seeking political support for its plans, Mr Turner made a $10,000 (e6,725) donation to Fianna Fáil. In August that year, Mr Ahern’s office helped Mr Turner obtain his passport.