Ahern denies any role in Sargent’s resignation

JUSTICE Minister Dermot Ahern insisted he and his Fianna Fáil party played no role in plotting the resignation of junior minister Trevor Sargent in retaliation for the Green Party forcing Willie O’Dea out of office last week.

The Opposition said trust between the Government parties has been destroyed by two ministerial resignations in less than a week.

Pressure turned to Minister Ahern, with the Opposition demanding he explain what he knew about letters sent by Mr Sargent to gardaí on behalf of a constituent facing criminal prosecution, and whether he leaked the correspondence to a paper.