Bertie on back bench again after 27 years

BERTIE AHERN yesterday found himself among the back benches in the Dáil, his first time there since 1981.

After backing Mr Cowen as taoiseach, Mr Ahern sat two rows back from him as the Offaly man gave his victory speech to the packed chamber.

It was a strange sight to see the man who led the country for almost 11 years suddenly pushed away from the front benches.