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Bertie Ahern pictured in 2008 Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

Bertie Ahern describes 'emotional wrench' at leaving Fianna Fáil

Writing in today’s Irish Times, the former Taoiseach said he was “deeply wounded” by the Mahon Tribunal findings.

FORMER TAOISEACH BERTIE Ahern has described the “emotional wrench” of leaving Fianna Fáil as he resigns over the findings of the Mahon Tribunal.

The former party leader again denied any involvement in corruption, and branded the tribunal’s final report “wrong and inaccurate”. He said he was “deeply wounded” by the suggestion that he had given untrue evidence at tribunal hearings.

Writing in the Irish Times today, Ahern reiterated that he would resign from Fianna Fáil before facing a vote on his expulsion this Friday. He wrote:

It is a real emotional wrench. The party has been an integral part of my life for 40 years. I always worked hard and did my level best for Fianna Fáil and for the wider public.

Ahern insisted that his finances had been “chaotic” but “most certainly” not corrupt. “I am sorry if that has caused any confusion or worry in people’s minds,” he added.

He said that he still has “the greatest of respect for the membership of the Fianna Fáil party right across the country.”

Last year, Ahern famously called some grassroots Fianna Fáil members “a bunch of useless good-for-nothings”, accusing them of having “tea parties [...] to discuss the state of the world” rather than working to build up the party vote.

More: Full coverage of the Mahon Tribunal fallout on TheJournal.ie>

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39 Comments
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    Mute another one? what's going on is the semi state sec
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    Jul 16th 2024, 2:40 PM

    Sure they’ll just buy them out from under the nose of first time buyers with the 7 billion housing budget and push prices higher!

    202
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    Mute Alexa Reborn
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    Jul 16th 2024, 3:00 PM

    On of the people that work with me was lucky enough to get a socially affordable home two years ago in a new limerick estate after 12 years on a list. When I call to help out with odd jobs it’s like visiting a foreign country as 2/3 are recently arrived and housed within 18 months of a successful application for asylum.
    The rent is also means tested so my mortgage is actually cheaper.

    Next election people should ask every candidate that calls to their door one simple question.
    Please name 5 things you or your party have actually done for this community. Then film the answers.

    198
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    Mute Paddy C
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    Jul 16th 2024, 3:02 PM

    What are people on about a housing crisis we’ve 158 units built there and plenty of fields for tents for people to get they’re bearings when they arrive. There’s plenty of extra tax fund from this budget i hear so more modular homes. Irish can look for a loan for an extension to house they’re families at granny and grandads house, that’s anyone fortunate enough to have parents who are lucky to own one. The rest can save up 5000 and head for Australia or USA cos they don’t allow you in otherwise,have a job lined up and no criminal record,opposite here though oddly unfortunately.

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    Mute Oh Mammy
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    Jul 16th 2024, 4:29 PM

    @Paddy C: you’re a tad off on the US there Paddy

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    Mute Vinny Hughes
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    Jul 16th 2024, 3:37 PM

    I suppose it’s fair to say nothing has changed and nothing will ever change when FFG in charge.

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    Mute Liam Dunne
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    Jul 16th 2024, 4:39 PM

    I assume that number excludes the homes built for Ukrainians et al

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    Mute Keth Tgi
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    Jul 16th 2024, 2:52 PM

    Yawn. News ceases to become news (as in what is new) when one can foresee the future.

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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Jul 16th 2024, 4:32 PM

    I propose that William Slevin gets deported. His tent or house will then become available to help ease the accommodation crisis.
    Any seconders?

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    Mute SV3tN8M4
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    Jul 16th 2024, 10:45 PM

    A Govt that lost the people & the moral authority to govern a long time ago. Listening to Harris speaking every day shows that he has no interest or concerns for the ordinary working Irish taxpayer, spends his days pandering to those arriving in record numbers every week, people are sick of it.

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    Mute John D Doe
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    Jul 16th 2024, 2:56 PM

    Too many, we need rental houses for us capitalists :)

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    Jul 16th 2024, 3:35 PM

    @John D Doe: No rental houses for capitalists means less houses for people who want to rent! Landlords are needed despite being vilified all the time……. I’d choose to have more small time landlords over REITs anyday because the REITs profits go abroad and pay as little tax as possible!

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    Mute Michael Lyons
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    Jul 16th 2024, 6:15 PM

    Cooking The Books

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    Mute lucia
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    Jul 18th 2024, 2:09 PM

    My daughter has 3 young children with autism & asthma her husband took his own life 5yrs ago. She’s been on the housing list for 11yrs now with she currently lives in a private rented house paying €1500 a month. The house is damp and has black mould everywhere it’s so bad that she has to share her room with all 3 kids because the kids bedrooms are so bad. her kitchen and bathroom are a total health hazard with mould, she can’t ask the landlord to fix it because the people that were in it before her were given notice to quit because he was selling up, a for sale went up for the house for 3mths then went down and house was rented out then to her she knows he will do the same if she complains, there are 19 houses empty in our town some have been empty 3yrs there is no sense to it

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