Reynolds tells details of Ahern ‘set-up’

ALBERT Reynolds has accused Bertie Ahern of shafting him in the 1997 presidential race.

Mr Reynolds says Mr Ahern asked him to run, only to later secretly throw his support behind Mary McAleese, who went on to win both the Fianna Fáil nomination and election to the Áras.

It has long been known that Mr Reynolds believed he was set up by Mr Ahern. He has now documented his version of events in his memoir, to be published on Thursday. In it, Mr Reynolds tells how Mr Ahern, who had succeeded him as Fianna Fáil leader, asked him in early 1997 to consider running.