Ahern to seek removal of FF whip from Beverley Cooper-Flynn

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has announced his intention to propose the removal of the Fianna Fáil whip from Beverley Cooper-Flynn at a meeting of the party’s TDs and Senators next Tuesday.

Mr Ahern said last night that the Fianna Fáil Ard Comhairle would also decide whether to expel the Mayo TD from the party when it meets on Friday or Saturday of next week.

Yesterday, Ms Cooper-Flynn lost her Supreme Court appeal against her failed 2001 High Court libel action against RTE, its reporter Charlie Bird and retired farmer James Howard. The three had accused the Fianna Fáil TD of encouraging National Irish Bank investors to evade tax.

Speaking in Galway today, Mr Ahern said Ms Cooper-Flynn would be given an opportunity to state her case before any disciplinary action was taken against her. However, he also said Fianna Fáil and all its members had a duty to uphold the law.

“It’s a very difficult situation for Deputy Beverley Flynn, but the judgements are absolutely clear,” he said. “We’re a democratic political party, we make the laws and pass the laws and we have to uphold them. Due process will be rigorously followed. She will have an opportunity of stating her case.”

Ms Cooper-Flynn herself has vowed to fight any moves to expel her from Fianna Fáil and said she had no intention of quitting politics.

"My political career is there because I was selected and elected by the people of Mayo and the only reason that my political career will be brought to an end is if that is the wish of the people of Mayo,” she said.

Ms Cooper-Flynn also claimed she had never done anything to bring Fianna Fáil into disrepute. “Any of the findings that have been made against me in the court cases related to a time prior to my ever being a member of Dáil Eireann, or indeed a member of Mayo County Council,” she said.