Ahern brothers rally to defend Taoiseach

THE brothers of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern have once more rallied to his defence, describing certain Mahon Tribunal questioning as “sick”, and insisting Mr Ahern will remain in office until 2011.

The Taoiseach refused to take questions from reporters on tribunal issues at a public engagement in Croke Park yesterday.

But his brothers spoke out on his behalf.

Cllr Maurice Ahern, also in Croke Park, claimed the tribunal was acting unfairly.

“I think it’s very sad that they couldn’t ask questions about my mother’s few bob, or few pounds as it was then… in private. I’m not going to talk about the other stuff because Bertie is handling that. Certainly, when I read about my mother, it’s sick — sick.”

In his most recent appearances at the tribunal the Taoiseach was asked about two lodgements to an Irish Permanent account he opened in 1994.

The Taoiseach said the first of these, a £7,000 lodgement in March 1994, came from his mother, the money having come from the estate of his late father.

The second lodgement queried was of £5,000 in December 1995. The Taoiseach said he believed this came from his brother, and the money stemmed from their father’s estate.

Yesterday, Cllr Ahern said it was Noel Ahern, who is a junior minister, who gave this money to the Taoiseach.

Cllr Ahern also criticised the tribunal for seeking access to a range of accounts under Fianna Fáil’s control in the Taoiseach’s constituency.

“For Jaysus’ sake, most of the cumanns, the treasurer’s account is in the notebook and the money is in their pocket,” he said.

Noel Ahern, a junior minister at the Department of Finance, accused the tribunal of conducting a witch-hunt, and said he didn’t think his brother had anything to hide.

Speaking in Cork, he said: “Most of the things you hear are a rehash of the same old things, and it goes to [the] tribunal. I think they’ve a few more phases; I wish they’d conduct their business a bit quicker and a bit more business-like.”

He stressed the Taoiseach enjoyed the full support of Fianna Fáil and would remain in office until 2011.

Bertie Ahern had said he would remain as Taoiseach until after the 2009 elections. But on Wednesday he said his mandate was until 2012 and suggested he would see that out.