Ahern climb-down on day’s mourning for Pope

THE Taoiseach was forced to make a partial climb-down yesterday on his decision to rule out a national day of mourning for the death of Pope John Paul II.

Bertie Ahern said schools would be allowed to close and public servants could take time off for the funeral on Friday.

Mr Ahern’s concession came amid a groundswell of public support for a national day of mourning.