Taoiseach admits Mahon probe was factor in decision to quit

BERTIE AHERN yesterday admitted the Mahon corruption probe had been a factor in his resignation decision.

The outgoing taoiseach also said he would like to be considered for the job of president of the European Union but feared it might be “going from the frying pan into the fire”.

Mr Ahern revealed that most of his cabinet colleagues were in tears when he informed them of his shock decision to leave office in May.

“The most devastating thing for me, which I didn’t know when I sat down to say to my colleagues, was to see the whole place, bar one or two of them, crying. And, I said I better get out of here before I cause any more problems,” the Taoiseach said.

Mr Ahern said he had originally planned to stand down in the summer of 2009, but partly decided to bring the departure date forward by 12 months because he was devoting so much time to dealing with matters related to the Mahon inquiry.

“I have spent the last year doing everything except what I should be doing,” he said.

The Taoiseach also said he thought there was little point in him staying in office once he had marked the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement this month and made his address to the US Congress.

Mr Ahern said he spent an hour playing with grandsons Jay and Rocco after announcing his resignation plans. The Taoiseach, 56, added he would decide over the summer what he wanted to do next with his life, but was used to working a 70- to 80-hour week.

He said he had received conflicting advice about how stepping down would affect him.

Mr Ahern said former Labour leader Pat Rabbitte had warned him he found the transition to a less demanding job tougher than he had expected. But that former British prime minister Tony Blair had said to Mr Ahern that he was now busier than ever nearly a year after leaving Downing Street.

The Taoiseach said there had been “no pressure” from colleagues for him to go and he was comforted by letters of support from well-wishers.

Mr Ahern would not be drawn on whether he planned to publish his memoirs. The Taoiseach was speaking after marking the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement with a speech to a conference on the peace process at UCD.

He discussed plans for devolving police and justice powers to Belfast with Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward at the event.