Out of order

I THINK it is despicable that the dead parents of the Taoiseach are an issue at the Mahon Tribunal.

Originally I was disturbed at this ‘tactic’ being used by the Taoiseach as a defence. But having read the full transcript it should be noted that despite what certain commentators have said, the Taoiseach did not introduce this in evidence — the tribunal raised these matters first.

Tribunal counsel proceeded to question Bertie Ahern about this for some time until the Taoiseach said to the chairman: “Judge, do I have to explain how my mother and father dealt with their affairs?”