Fianna Fáil faces a period of more questions than answers

VINCENT BROWNE’S questioning of the Taoiseach at the launch of the Fianna Fáil manifesto on Thursday was riveting. Bertie Ahern was refusing to answer questions about the £30,000 he got from his friend Michael Wall in December 1994.

Browne was on old ground. Over the years, he irritated the Fianna Fáil faithful and many of his colleagues by tackling a similar issue with Charlie Haughey. Browne just would not quit. Haughey refused to talk about his finances and people got tired of what was seen as Browne’s act.

But time proved that Browne was right to persist with such questions. We still don’t have most of the answers, but at least Browne had the courage and foresight to persevere, unlike most of his colleagues.