Reynolds ‘abused power by seeking donations’

Former taoiseach Albert Reynold’s attempts to solicit funds from a developer were improper and his failure to inquire into a donation to one of his ministers was wrong, Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin has admitted.

The Fianna Fáil leader faced a barrage of questions over his shamed party yesterday as the fallout from the Mahon Tribunal report into corrupt payments to politicians continued.

Mr Martin had neglected to comment on the tribunal’s findings that Mr Reynolds had sought large donations from a Cork developer in the early 1990s in his initial responses to the report.