Noonan says Larkin should be off limits

UNDER fire Celia Larkin received words of comfort from an unexpected quarter yesterday.

Former Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan said her affairs should be off limits for politicians.

As it emerged that the Revenue Commissioners are to investigate her controversial IR£30,000 “loan” from a FF constituency fund, Mr Noonan said it was a matter for the Mahon Tribunal to decide.

Mr Noonan, who is recovering from a heart by pass, said: “I’m not into discussing what Alex Ferguson would call the WAGs. Wives and girlfriends are off limits.” In an interview with the Limerick Leader, he said that but for the “Bertie Show” at the tribunal the present Dáil would be a very dull one.

He said: “This Bertie business is dominating every week now. It’s all ‘when is the Taoiseach resigning?’ and the latest revelations. There’s the people who don’t believe he’s telling the truth and want him to resign, and the second category — which is mostly Fianna Fáil people — who don’t believe he’s telling the truth and want him to stay.

“But it’s very hard to find anybody who believes him anymore.”

Mr Noonan recalled the great friendship he developed with Dermot Morgan after the late comedian started to lampoon him on the famous Scrap Saturday radio satire programme.

He said: “This [friendship)] arose from a set-up on the Late Late Show on which Morgan was appearing when I rang in. It was kind of funny as he was taking me off and people watching the programme did not know which one of us was talking as the voices were similar. I was slagging him and he was slagging me doing the Michael Noonan voice. Afterwards I invited him down to a game in Thomond Park.”

A few weeks later the Fr Ted character rang to say he was in Limerick and they arranged to meet in Bobby Byrne’s bar.

He said: “I arrived early. Then Morgan walks in and people were watching a rugby game on TV. At half time they turned around and were surprised to see us having a great chat. He was great craic.”