Subsidence or subsidy? Dunno, ask Dougal (this one’s no fool)

BERTIE AHERN revealed just “four rafts” under his St Luke’s HQ are keeping it from collapsing into the river — he didn’t need to mention the single life-raft keeping his political career afloat is also sinking fast.

The pivotal moment in yesterday’s proceedings came when Judge Mahon had to interrupt cross-examination to explain to the Taoiseach the difference between taking money for political purposes and taking money for personal use.

Not for the first time in the extraordinary saga, it was reminiscent of a classic Father Ted scene. The one that came to mind was when a despairing Ted tries to make a confused Dougal understand why the toy cow in his hand appeared to be the same size as the real herd of cows outside.