Bertie’s side-door trick won’t work on Mahon

BATTLE-SCARRED but unbowed, a symbol of modern republicanism took centre-stage in Dublin’s O’Connell Street yesterday flanked by loyal foot soldiers. And the GPO put on a good show too.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern arrived at the 1916 commemorations in an atmosphere thick with emblematic significance. The building at the centre of proceedings represented a landmark turning point in history, prompting thoughts of whether Mr Ahern too was approaching a T-junction in his own journey.

The handsome edifice was gutted during the independence struggle, but later restored to its former glory. Could it be an omen that Bertie too would survive whatever disembowelling the tribunal had in store for him and live to rise again in renewed splendour?