Ahern urged to act against Cooper-Flynn

Pressure intensified today on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to take action against Beverly Cooper-Flynn who was confirmed to have encouraged clients of her bank employers to evade paying tax.

But, as the party studied details of a damning Supreme Court rejection of a libel judgment appeal she launched against state-backed broadcaster RTÉ, Ms Cooper-Flynn insisted: “I am very disappointed, but I accept the decision of the court and am considering the outcome.

“But I do not regret taking the case. I took it because I felt very strongly.

“It‘s just unfortunate the outcome was not different.

“My future is now a matter for Fianna Fáil and one for another day. You have to take every day as it comes.”

Ms Cooper-Flynn, daughter of former cabinet minister and European Commissioner and one-time high-profile Fianna Fáil figure Padraig Flynn, is now facing a bill of at least €2.5m following two separate sets of marathon courtroom proceedings and admitted: “It is not a good day financially - definitely not.”

Opposition parties have stepped up demands for Mr Ahern to move against his party colleague and Mayo constituency representative.

Labour party leader Pat Rabbitte, ruled out of order when he attempted to raise the issue in the Dáil minutes after the court decision was delivered, said it had been established that a member had facilitated tax evasion and that was a matter of public concern that diminished the whole parliament.

He added: “This has very serious implications for the coalition government parties.

“Beverley Cooper-Flynn should lose the Fianna Fáil whip.”

And the Fine Gael party highlighted the need for Mr Ahern to act swiftly, declaring: “There are no grounds for delaying or prevaricating on this.”