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FIANNA FÁIL LEADER Micheál Martin is to put forward a motion which could see his one-time boss Bertie Ahern expelled from the party he led for 14 years.
Following a meeting of the party’s officers this evening, Martin said that he will table the motion at a special meeting of the National Executive, adding that Ahern had betrayed the trust of Fianna Fáil and the country.
The vote will be taken next Friday, 30 March.
The officers at tonight’s meeting deemed his conduct “as outlined in evidence made public through the tribunal” unbecoming of a member of Fianna Fáil.
The party is writing to the former Taoiseach to inform him of its decision.
Martin said that although the central allegation of corruption against Ahern was not sustained, the evidence confirmed by the Tribunal and its comments relating to him “are extremely serious”.
The receipt by a senior office holder of large amounts of money and the failure to give any credible explanation requires an unequivocal response, explained the new leader, who has promised reform and swift action on the Mahon Report.
No matter how high a member rises within the party and in elected office, they still carry a duty of trust for the members of Fianna Fáil and for the people who elected them.
Martin reiterated the tribunal’s finding that a significant amount of evidence given by Ahern was deemed “untrue”.
He said the extent to which Ahern fell short of the standard of personal behaviour which is expected of the holders of high office was a matter of “profound personal and professional regret” for him.
Former minister Pádraig Flynn also faces expulsion from the party after the tribunal found that he accepted for himself a sum of £50,000 from developer Tom Gilmartin.
That behaviour on his part was a disgrace and betrayed the trust that the Irish electorate had placed in him.
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Then they’ll meet him for a pint, slap him on the back and say “Sorry bud, but you know we had to do it. Optics and all that”.
They are far beyond the point where gestures like this can have any meaning.
Very true Katherine. In my mind FF have no longer any logical mandate as a party.
FF should disband now – corruption goes to its very core.
The people could have disbanded FF in one general and one local election if they wanted, starting last Feb, but look what happened. Alas, some sheeple never learn.
Great . What about Pee Flynn, Albert Reynolds , biffo, and the rest ? Of and you too Mícheál. FF disbanded.
Adrian not as dumb as ff’ers
Don’t forget the other waster who wanted to be president, disband the toxic party and burn them bastard bond holders so they never gamble away other people’s money again!
dont stop there,, he should be done for treason
Yes . Treason is the only answer.
Load of rubbish. Too late. Every senior member of FF and that includes you Martin knew what was going on for years. You are fooling no one with this proposal of kicking him out. FF were and still are now a disgrace.
You are so right!
Interesting generalisation from someone without facts to back it up,an endearing Irish trait , ur aptly named.
Bertie won’t give a fiddlers. He has his pension and his appearance fees. He’s laughing all the way to the bank… oh wait a minute?
Probably not an Irish bank, though.
Appearance fees I imagine is gone as who or what want to be associated with the lying two faced prick !!!!!
If they don’t throw him out now they condone all the lies and corruption that has gone on in the FF party !!! And therefore should disband !!! Oh and take back his pig fat pension and make the lying snake pay what’s owed to the tax man on that €165,000 Gift !!’
That a Japanese spitz?
Tom Gilmartin was found by the most part to be a believable witness, How is Michael Martin going to explain now the 5000 grand that was given to him by Gilmartin and put into his wife’s account. The ” that was the way it was done” excuse isn’t going to wash anymore.
Its amazing that Martin feels he has no case to answer as he sat as a senior minister in Bertie’s government.
The whole party is engulfed in this corruption – that why they should disband. Never forget, never forgive.
True David but FG aren’t without sin either.This report has done alot to destroy what little trust the Irish people still had in politicans.Time for FG to kick out a few members if they haven’t already,Labour have a few skeletons also.Jail is the best place for these scumbags then seize the money that bought their votes.
If the Fianna Fail party disband I’m having a Project X style party and everyone who’s unemployed is invited…
Please can I come along too? Am working but I hate the bastards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Instead of bitching about it, and suggestign there is no alternative to FF other than than SF…. Start your own party!!!!!!!!! I will watch this space ;)
Hi Cal I never suggested there was no alternative to Fianna Fail and no one mentioned Sinn Fein.
“Project X” is a film about a house party. That is what I would have if they disbanded, a house party.
Susie, I feel ur pain but Brian Cowan cannot b mentioned in the same breath as those people, he was not under investigation and u won’t find a hint of corruption connected to him. I am sure he is as hurt and embarrassed by theese people as the rest of us, more probably.
Boll!x. He was a very senior member of FF. he knew exactly what was going on and kept quiet or tried to brush it under the carpet. He is as guilty as bertie.
Brian ‘the jowls’ Cowan was at it like the rest of them, only he never got caught out. ! FF are rotten and I mean ROTTEN to the very core!
Careful now Gerry campbell….
I did not say Brian Cowen , …….. Biffo is what I said , funny that you assumed B. Cowen :)
Do they think the irish people were born yesterday? If there was any truth or conviction behind their words they would take away his €2800 a week pension and replace it with state pension rates. Them throw him in jail. Couldn’t agree more with begrudgery, it’s not like any of this is new ground breaking news, every one of them knew what was going on and are equally as guilty for turning a blind eye.
Yes they do think we were born yesterday and we prove it everyday by sitting on our holes doing nothing.
Unbecoming of a member of Fianna Fail… cos he was caught?
Ahearns Conduct was unbecoming of the dogs in the street
Even a cursory review of this party’s history would suggest that Bertie Ahern’s conduct was entirely becoming of a FF leader/member. Just saying.
In 2007 all of FF were behind Bertie backing him up and dismissing the tribunal and their questioning, why? Because he was electoral asset, no he is a major liability and they are dropping him like a hot snot and cant get far enough away from him.
Politics is all about getting elected and then re-elected. Chameleons the lot of them
Big change from Micheal Martin compared to his very strong support for Bertie during the tribunal. God they are great at changing to whatever way the wind blows. If he wants to be in anyway serious he should STOP THE CORRUPT MINISTERIAL PENSIONS – NOW!!!!!
Conduct unbecoming? Will someone tell me please what could anyone possibly do in FF that could be regarded as unbecoming by their standards..?
Get caught?
:) :) :)
@ Enda McCabe – Classic!
Oh look, there’s the horse over on the far hill, shut the doors anyway. Pack of gobsh1tes.
This country was builted with brown envelopes, so bloody what.
So bloody what?. I’ll tell you. People are starving!. That’s so what. People are under enormous stress and are afraid of losing their homes, that’s what. And if the point was not made clear enough for you, people are committing suicide.! Now, do you get it?.
FF disbanded thank u …
Roll on the revolution. A lot these Fianna Fáil boyo’s will be in Gulags for their crimes
Oh now I get it… ‘unbecoming’ is another word for ‘typical’
No revolution here !!!! People are not eating grass on the side of the road “YET”. There’s one thing for sure. Fianna Failure are finished for good. Good riddens!!!!!
Exactly paddy! God speed the day!!!!let justice prevail! Can’t wait for the day when someone dances on Bertie’s grave! Like haughy!
love the way everyone has tunnel vision blame FF for everything now let’s rewind… the mahon report names a lot of FG corruption why are u guys not calling for their heads… the current gov are liars cheats and more corrupt than FF… SO CMO N LET’S CALL A SPADE A SPADE AND GET THEM OUT
Exactly Martin, the tribunal’s report doesn’t find Ahern guilty of corruption, something it does of many FF/FG/LAB councillors. They are all as bad as one another but the government are only too happy to let the media go after Ahern while keeping stum about their many sinners.
I think if these guys are brought yo the courts they should loose all pay related to their political careers. This is treason!
Why don’t a go one step further and expel him from the country. My fear is that he will be send to jail for tax avoidance, ending up choosing the tax payer more money.
His behavior is FF to its core. Haughey sowed the seeds, Bertie followed through.
The bigger issue here is that the body politic is a shambles, the civil servants have the real power and the people are suffering now because another corrupt institution EU/ECB has Ireland on its knees.
Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. FG is next.
Does anyone know if they get to keep their pensions after being expelled?
just going on from what “bua” said. Although Bertie wad cleared and is said to have done nothing illegal what about Phadraig Flynn will they strip him off his pensions or will they let him go
Does anyone know if they get to keep their pensions is expelled?
Yes, of course. If only it were that easy…
Oh you can be sure they will all keep their lavish pensions.All their pensions should be . stopped.Anyone convicted of dishonest conduct should pay the price.Why does the CAB not arrest bertie.They would if it was me or you.
Nice one susie, and that Adrian should apologise to you, too no nee for rudeness
Gerry campbell
What are you talking about , make sense man . … !
And why can’t you put your comment under my name ? I would have been able to respond to it sooner :)
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