AN ANGRY PUNTER heckled Bertie Ahern as he arrived at his old haunt the Galway Races yesterday.

Racegoer Brendan McCarthy from Limerick shouted “Bertie, you bollox!” at the former Taoiseach as he strolled into the grounds. Mr McCarthy later explained to Barry Moran of the Irish Sun (print edition): “He was here during the good times and then he fecked off when the bad times began. It annoyed me when I just saw him swanning in here without a care in the world. He’s got some cheek.”

Seeing that Bertie was headed for the restaurant, Mr McCarthy continued: “He’s going in there now to eat chocolate mousse – sure that’s too good for him.”

According to the Irish Sun, Mr Ahern actually tucked in to slow-roasted prime sirloin with mash.

The Irish Independent reports that when asked about his opinion on the presidential race which he was once widely expected to enter, Mr Ahern told reporters: “Ah sure they’re welcome to it. Let them at it.”

However, other Fianna Fáilers were having a better day. Former Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy will be enjoying a share of €11,385 in winnings after his wife Noeleen’s horse Catch the Eye came first in the day’s last race. Asked how the man once known as ‘Champagne Charlie’ would want to celebrate, Noeleen told the Irish Times: “Charlie will want to go straight home.”

Read more: Full coverage of the 2011 Galway Races >