Bertie says thanks and f lees after questions on Mahon
BERTIE Ahern has lost some of his international gloss after storming out of an interview on German TV.
The former taoiseach took flight in a huff after being repeatedly questioned about the findings of the Mahon Tribunal, which ruled that he had lied about receiving secret payments of stg£165,000.
Mr Ahern appeared on political programme Conflict Zone to speak about his role in the Good Friday Agreement, which recently marked its 20th anniversary.
But when the conversation turned to the findings of the tribunal into planning matters and payments, the former taoiseach cut the interview short.
Ahern initially claimed he had ‘cleared his name’, when probed by veteran journalist Tim Sebastian. ‘You said you would go an clear your name, did you clear your name?’ Sebastian asked.
Mr Ahern replied: ‘Yes, I did. I am quite happy I cleared my name.’
Interviewer Sebastian went on: ‘Because the tribunal never reversed its decision. They said you were not truthful.’
Ahern, once known as the Teflon Taoiseach because nothing would stick to him, appeared rattled. ‘It gave its views and I gave my evidence,’ he said.
‘I was very happy with my evidence and I was very happy with the situation that I have, and the tribunal is over and it has reported and that is it,’ he said.
When he said he had nothing else to say on the matter, Sebastian put it to him that he was seeking to run for the role of President, and these questions are going to arise.
‘You are somebody who wants to come back maybe as President. These are issues that are in the public domain,’ he said.
When the interviewer attempted to raise the economic crash, it became clear Mr Ahern had had enough. He stood up, removed his microphone and went to walk out – but before he left, he shook hands with Sebastian.
‘I agreed to meet you on the Good Friday Agreement,’ he said as he departed. ‘We have done that so we are finished. Thank you very much.’
Conflict TV said that while the interview was ostensibly about the Good Friday Agreement, producers had sent a list of other topics they wished to cover to Mr Ahern’s office, but did not receive a response. They said they hoped he would return at a later stage to complete the interview.
During the tribunal, Mr Ahern defended not having held a bank account while he was Ireland’s minister for finance by insisting there was nothing in the Constitution that demanded he have one.