And after all of that, now he wants the Áras

I WAS disheartened to see the universal, almost rapturous, welcome Bertie Ahern received while on the Late Late Show (October 9).

I was further disappointed to read that 400 people attended his book signing the following day.

This is the man who ...

* Presided over a government which led the country to the brink of bankruptcy through fuelling the public sector wage bill and neglecting to control the banking sector.

* Continued to give speeches around the globe, for which he was well paid, extolling the strength of the Celtic Tiger while on a daily basis thousands of people were losing their jobs.

* “Led” the country by uttering phrases like “the boom is only going to get boomer” while economists were shouting halt.

* Spent €2,400 on one night in London’s Dorchester Hotel.

After all of that and much more, including questions over his personal finances, he has the temerity to position himself for the role of president.

It is not as if we have not been here before.

Does the name Charles J Haughey jog the memory?

Will we ever learn?

Michael Clohosey

Hazel Villas

Upper Kilmacud Road

Stillorgan

Co Dublin