McDowell’s past behaviour may now come back to haunt him

BERTIE Ahern said it was only “with the benefit of hindsight” that he realised his “misjudgement” in accepting money from friends.

He was the most out of pocket in having to pay some €90,000, but the biggest political loser this week was Michael McDowell who became a victim of his own double standards.

The Taoiseach noted how he had earlier been victimised by scurrilous financial rumours that he demonstrated were untrue. US President Lyndon Johnson used to tell the story of the Texas politician who told his aides to spread the rumour that his opponent was having sex with a pig.