Taoiseach accused of trying to ‘bury’ source of payments

BERTIE AHERN was last night accused of trying to “bury” the source of cash payments into his bank accounts by obstructing the Mahon corruption probe.

However, the Taoiseach hit back at the opposition attacks insisting his dramatic bid to prevent the investigation questioning him over Dáil statements was a defence of all TDs’ rights of privilege.

Eamon Gilmore ridiculed Mr Ahern’s assertion he was following in the footsteps of two leading Labour figures by fighting attempts to be probed on parliamentary comments. “They went to court to protect the confidentiality of the sources of information they received. Mr Ahern was going to court to protect the confidentiality of the sources of money he received,” the Labour leader told the Dáil. Mr Gilmore said the Taoiseach’s court challenge was an act of political self-preservation aimed at either “buying time or burying information”.