Bertie warned to ‘shut up’ by former partner

BELEAGUERED Bertie Ahern was publicly told by his ex-partner Celia Larkin to “shut up” yesterday.

Ms Larkin warned the former Taoiseach he was “doing himself no favours” after a string of controversial statements regarding Fianna Fáil and his handling of the economy in recent days.

The latest rebuke came after Fianna Fáil moved to all but disown Mr Ahern after he lashed out at some party members as “good-for-nothings” in a TV3 documentary about the collapse in the party’s fortunes.

Mr Ahern also drew intense criticism after it emerged he has claimed €270,000 in expenses over the past two and a half years, and continues to refuse to accept any blame for the country’s economic meltdown.

Mr Ahern appeared to accuse victims of the crash as wanting to use him as a scapegoat, saying: “They did overstretch themselves ... and I suppose it’s handy enough for them to blame somebody,” he told TV3

After saying she wished he would “shut up”, Ms Larkin said Mr Ahern was wrong to take such a stance.

“For something as serious as the property crash and the economy we really need to take some time for self reflection.

“Just to say that it was everybody else’s fault doesn’t do himself or anyone else justice,” she told RTÉ.

Fianna Fáil is bracing itself for the long-awaited findings of the Mahon corruption probe, which is expected to deliver its report within weeks.