Bertie Ahern

Bertie Ahern: 'Represented what was wrong'

THE announcement by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD that he wil not contest the next general election will come as a surprise to some people but to me personally it is a good thing.

Mr Ahern represented in Irish politics what was wrong with our society – Mé Féin. He did one good thing: he helped to bring peace and for that I am very grateful.

Mr Ahern had a chance to put right that what was wrong and lacking in our country and he had all the chances with all the years of the Celtic Tiger, a tiger that never roared at my home.

There are many decent people in the Fianna Fáil party but, like another former leader, he thought he was above us all.

I am glad this day has come and I do hope that others in leadership will learn the sorry lessons that Mr Ahern did not want to learn

PAUL DORAN

Clondalkin

Dublin 22