Ahern’s role in stadium plans scrutinised

FORMER taoiseach Bertie Ahern insisted he had never taken bribes as his role in plans for a national stadium came under the spotlight of the Mahon inquiry.

Despite saying he did not discuss proposals for the sports site before November 1994, the probe produced documents showing it had been raised during a meeting between US firm Chilton and O’Connor and the then finance minister at LA airport in March of that year.

Mr Ahern said the subject could only have been mentioned briefly at the encounter, which he claimed was hastily arranged via the Irish embassy.