Battered and dented, but still intact

Ahern’s latest woes have not been as damaging as might have been imagined, writes Political Editor Harry McGee.

Like a comic book hero, Bertie Ahern has a certain quality of indestructibility about him. During his first payments controversy last October, he got a proper charcoaling (to use this week’s running metaphor; the barbecue) but emerged without even a singe.

The opening of Fianna Fáil’s election campaign coincided with fresh allegations about Mr Ahern’s personal finances, carried in last weekend’s newspapers. The issue has dogged the Taoiseach all week and led to what has been, by common consensus, a dismal start to the campaign.