PJ MARA: Fianna Fáil's man sailed through Flood Tribunal with career intact

When PJ Mara resigned as Fianna Fáil director of elections for the Nice Treaty referendum in 2002 after adverse findings against him in the Flood Tribunal, it looked like he might be departing the political scene for good.

But it proved a mere minor interruption and, five years on, he was director for the general election, steering the party into power for a third successive time.

When costs for tribunal witnesses were decided in 2004, it seemed he might be made pay dearly for his less than full co-operation but the tribunal ruled the State should cover the bulk of his £80,000 bill.