Businessman stumps up for off-licence plane trip

A Co Meath-based businessman has paid €1800 to the department of defence to cover the cost incurred by the Tanaiste's controversial flight to open an off-licence in Co Leitrim in December.

Joe Fernandez, who is a progressive democrat member and stood for the party in the 1989 general election, gave a cheque for the amount to the Leitrim Observer newspaper yesterday.