Ahern bids to shift spotlight from financial affairs

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern tonight hoped the media spotlight would shift from his controversial financial affairs to his party’s manifesto being launched tomorrow.

The Fianna Fáil leader has been dogged by a stg£30,000 payment his ex-partner received in 1994 to revamp his rented house and for “stamp duty issues” he has refused to explain.