President at centre of ‘misuse of State resources’ claim

The President's office has confirmed that Mary McAleese did attend the Connacht football final last year - however a spokesperson will not confirm how she travelled there.

It follows speculation that President McAleese was the official who used an Air Corps helicopter to get to the game.

Fine Gael TD Michael Ring raised the issue in the Dáil earlier, describing it as a misuse of state resources.

But the Taoiseach Brian Cowen says he does not think it is outrageous for someone to be dropped off to a match if it's on the way back to the helicopter's base.