Taoiseach faces controversy over claims of altered Mahon files

BERTIE Ahern’s purchase of his Drumcondra home was at the centre of fresh controversy last night as questions were raised whether files given to the Mahon corruption probe had been altered.

The information emerged as the Taoiseach prepared for another bruising encounter with the tribunal at Dublin Castle against the background of Mr Ahern’s legal challenge to block the inquiry from asking him about Dáil statements.

Tribunal senior counsel Des O’Neill raises queries over 50 missing pages in one file supplied to the probe and alludes to the possibility others were changed in transcripts obtained by Newstalk’s Lunchtime with Eamon Keane show.