Ahern faces coalition split over mystery funds
Bertie Ahern is facing a split with his coalition partners as he refused to explain mystery funds in his bank account
Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern is facing a split with his coalition
partners after the
Progressive
Democrat leader Mary Harney urged him to end ‘considerable public disquiet’
over how mysterious funds appeared in his bank accounts and the Greens insisted
‘contradictory’ evidence given to the Mahon corruption probe was overshadowing
government policies.
But the prime minister’s spokesperson made it clear Ahern would not make a
statement ahead of his next Mahon appearance in May, the Irish Examiner
reports.
The change in attitude of both junior government parties came after Gráinne
Carruth, Ahern’s former secretary, gave evidence, revealing she lodged sterling
into an account, which he testified under oath had only received his wage
cheques while finance minister.
Eamon Gilmore, Labour, noted the PD/Green move exposed a deepening rift in
the Government, while Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern regarded the matter as an
internal Fianna Fáil issue.
Further reading:
Call to stop Ahern appointing Irish tax chief
Ahern will not resign over his finances
Read
story in the Irish Examiner