Words fail to stop Bertie arriving with ‘vow of silence’

Bertie Ahern showed up at the ard fheis, despite Micheál Martin’s clear attempt to distance Fianna Fáil from the former taoiseach.

Mr Ahern arrived at the RDS at about 1pm on Saturday, and stayed for two-and-a-half hours mingling with members. But he refused to engage with the media, saying he had taken a “vow of silence”.

The night before, without mentioning him by name, Mr Martin attempted to put clear blue water between the party and the tainted Ahern era.