Shatter: Ahern can afford own security

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said he understands why many people are angry with Bertie Ahern but insisted if the former taoiseach feels he needs extra security he can well afford to pay for it.

Mr Shatter was speaking after it emerged that Mr Ahern was attacked by someone wielding a crutch in a Dublin city centre pub last Friday night. It has been revealed that he has also been verbally abused on a number of occasions in the past few months and was even sent a rope in the post with the clear implication that he should end his life.

He said: “There are some former taoisigh receiving very substantial sums of money from the State who I should think if they need a driver or some additional security they should be able to raise that themselves.”