Bertie Ahern statement/resignation

Orando Broom · 23-03-2012 11:57AM

Wild Bill wrote: »

If you were a cynic you might suggest that the publication of this Tale of the Already Known was designed to take eyes off the spectacle of Big Phil and his illegitimate Regime crashing and burning over the house tax

Ain't working though - even the Indo today gave equal billing to Phil's lack of a mandate for extortion.

Maybe the truth is catching up on the Pols quicker than it was back in the Boom?

It is extremely difficult to be a cute hoor in the digital information age. Their archaic cons and scams are being found out almost as soon as they are implemented. Even with a scatter gun approach of stuff being disseminated that may or may not be factually accurate it leaves very few hiding places for them to operate within.

benway · 23-03-2012 12:05PM

kryogen wrote: »

Do you understand the term scapegoat?

A scapegoat is generally a peripheral figure taking the heat for the whole operation, not the ringleader of the whole circus.

The only reason there isn't a direct finding of corruption against Bertie is that only cash lodgements to accounts controlled by him were found, so it's impossible to trace the money. I'm in no doubt but that these were only the tip of the iceberg, he did most of his business in cash, the cute fckin' hoor, we can only guess at how much he received.

I'm afraid that poor Bertie deserves no sympathy.

wexie · 23-03-2012 12:25PM

AngryBollix wrote: »

They're the equivalent of the Nazi Party. The party that destroyed Germany. While the crimes are not on the same scale the end result was similar

Really? are there bombers over Dublin? I'd have thought that would have been on the news?

Guess FF are censoring the media right?

take everything · 23-03-2012 12:45PM

Wonderful summation by Miriam Lord in the IT today.
www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0323/1224313769154.html

SeaFields · 23-03-2012 12:48PM

take everything wrote: »

Wonderful summation by Miriam Lord in the IT today.
irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0323/1224313769154.html

I've seen that linked in a few threads today and by friends on Facebook. Great piece of how many are feeling today.

Orando Broom · 23-03-2012 01:36PM

Were he to be found guilty on any charge, no matter how small I'd like to see the following happen.

Bertie stripped of all his accumulated wealth from his years in politics, all the perks and what not. Jailing him burdens the state further. Reclaim all monies he earned dishonestly and sanction him financially for bringing the office of Taoiseach into disrepute. Get every shilling back off him. No more pensions or phones or Garda protection. No Council of State shindigs, nothing only pariah status.

Capone him, get him on something.

thecommietommy · 23-03-2012 02:32PM

I'm fed up with the people of this country, Bertie only told the truth, I totally agree with his only regret few months ago, " I'm only sorry that Stadium Ireland wasn't built ". Good on ya Bertie, yahoo ya boy ya.

Ash.J.Williams · 23-03-2012 02:35PM

thecommietommy wrote: »

I'm fed up with the people of this country, Bertie only told the truth, I totally agree with his only regret few months ago, " I'm only sorry that Stadium Ireland wasn't built ". Good on ya Bertie, yahoo ya boy ya.

here here...and of course if only the lads in the bank told him what they were up to

thecommietommy · 23-03-2012 02:46PM

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

here here...and of course if only the lads in the bank told him what they were up to

Yes, Bertie for President !!!! Lets build the Bertie bowl in his honour and not been so begrudging to this great man. Yahoo for Bertie, God Bless Fianna Fail !!!!!

tayto lover · 23-03-2012 03:19PM

While we are all reading about the filth, posting here and shaking our heads in disgust you can bet your life that somewhere in the country some little underhand **** of a politician is stuffing money into his arse pocket after doing a little "favour" for his friend and saying to himself "nobody will know, sure I am only following in the footsteps of the last shower".
It is endemic in Irish political life.

fishy fishy · 23-03-2012 03:48PM

Im proud to say that I always thought this guy was a sleezeball, before during and after he was taoiseach. What maddened me is the idiots that fell for the "walking on the back of his pants, ordinary joe soap" routine with the flat accent and him sniggering behind your backs. Didn't take much to fool ye.

Hope ye learned lessons.

the latest plonker who is head of ff now isn't much better - hypocrite doesn't even begin to cover what he is.

KeithAFC · 23-03-2012 04:13PM

crusher000 wrote: »

To think the men of 1916 laid down their lives to get this countries Independance for the likes Bertie and the majority of our politicians could line their own pockets and break our nation. Do our politicians say an Oath on election to the Dail? If so any politician found not only to be corrupt but incompetent should be charged in bringing the security of this State into jeopardy. I have said it before not on these forums and will say it again our politicans do not represent the majority of the citizens of this country whom are working class and until that day comes it will be always about them making more money and keeping the rest of us down. We need greater represntation for the working and poor classes (don't like using these terms but what's the alternatives) to truly reflect the demographic make up of Irelands population.

The same 1916 group which had Éamon de Valera who went on to set up a country dominated by the Roman Catholic Church and allowed them to run wild and destroy families. Only all these years later are people now finding out.

Compare that to now and it isn't as bad as people make out. At least Bertie Ahern got involved in the peace process and did some good things.

steddyeddy · 23-03-2012 04:20PM

KeithAFC wrote: »

crusher000 wrote: »

To think the men of 1916 laid down their lives to get this countries Independance for the likes Bertie and the majority of our politicians could line their own pockets and break our nation. Do our politicians say an Oath on election to the Dail? If so any politician found not only to be corrupt but incompetent should be charged in bringing the security of this State into jeopardy. I have said it before not on these forums and will say it again our politicans do not represent the majority of the citizens of this country whom are working class and until that day comes it will be always about them making more money and keeping the rest of us down. We need greater represntation for the working and poor classes (don't like using these terms but what's the alternatives) to truly reflect the demographic make up of Irelands population.

The same 1916 group which had Éamon de Valera who went on to set up a country dominated by the Roman Catholic Church and allowed them to run wild and destroy families. Only all these years later are people now finding out.

Compare that to now and it isn't as bad as people make out. At least Bertie Ahern got involved in the peace process and did some good things.

John hume did most of the work imo bertie just took the credit and used the conflict in the north to further his own career.

Biggins · 23-03-2012 04:22PM

KeithAFC wrote: »

...At least Bertie Ahern got involved in the peace process and did some good things.

Do you mean his involvement in Coillte and his involvement in Helvetia Wealth (a Swiss private bank he chairs - who said he had no accounts in Ireland again? - why should he? He's involved in a Swiss one! - wasn't someone asking where the money went? I wonder!!!) who had announced previously they are interested in acquiring Coillte (which Ahern had/has reported shares?) a major conflict of interest and presents a harmful oppurtunity for the purchase of the largest land developing company in the country - which he has both his feet standing in?
(While minister for finance, for 4 years at least, he was the main shareholder in Coillte)

Short version: a state body (going privatised at Aherns prior insistence and involvement - where he could see profitability easily by having access to the books) selling off our national forests and another body wishing to buy them which he's involved in too!

Ka-Ching!!!

Loads of info on the net about this but here is one link: http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/ahernlinked-firm-wants-coillte-broken-up-and-sold-2821122.html

KeithAFC · 23-03-2012 04:22PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

John hume did most of the work imo bertie just took the credit and used the conflict in the north to further his own career.

Bertie is a hero to many people up here. I think that is unfair on Bertie Ahern. His contribution can't be underestimated.

steddyeddy · 23-03-2012 04:24PM

take everything wrote: »

Wonderful summation by Miriam Lord in the IT today.
www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0323/1224313769154.html

You got there before me. Brilliant article, the best one yet on the mahon tribunal.

fishy fishy · 23-03-2012 04:32PM

KeithAFC wrote: »

The same 1916 group which had Éamon de Valera who went on to set up a country dominated by the Roman Catholic Church and allowed them to run wild and destroy families. Only all these years later are people now finding out.

Compare that to now and it isn't as bad as people make out. At least Bertie Ahern got involved in the peace process and did some good things.

i was going to point this poster in the right direction, but then I realised its only Keith -

The King of Moo · 23-03-2012 04:39PM

I can't believe some people are effectively defending Bertie by saying "sure all them politicians are crooked."

Of course political corruption isn't just restricted to Fianna Fáil, but that doesn't mean it's ok. Why not call for going after Bertie and every other corrupt politician, past or present, instead of saying "Why pick on Bertie?"

Political corruption thrives on the "they're all at it, sure, what do you expect from politicians?" attitude.

Though I do think it's pretty fair to pick on him more than others. Miriam Lord explains the reason very well in her article. He was our Taoiseach and he openly lied about his crooked dealings, laughing at us all the way. He knew that even if there was no paper trail, it was clear to anyone that he was up to no good. It's impossible for him not to have known how clear this was to the general public. Yet he continued to lie. Why? Because he doesn't care about the people of this country and whether or not they know how corrupt he is. He doesn't care about how many people hate him, and he doesn't care about the idiots who still support him and see him as a salt-of-the-earth nice guy. He probably thinks they're more stupid than the rest, and laughs more at them.
All he cared about was getting away with his crimes.

People defending him should be ashamed of themselves.

tayto lover · 23-03-2012 04:57PM

KeithAFC wrote: »

Bertie is a hero to many people up here. I think that is unfair on Bertie Ahern. His contribution can't be underestimated.

Maybe you mean the "contributions" he was receiving cannot be underestimated.

paddyismaddy · 23-03-2012 04:58PM

so what will happen him now f*ck all :rolleyes:

Orando Broom · 23-03-2012 05:44PM

KeithAFC wrote: »

Bertie is a hero to many people up here. I think that is unfair on Bertie Ahern. His contribution can't be underestimated.

What's the Protestant for 'troll'?

Also save your schadenfreude, your buckos up there are quick learners!

Show Time · 23-03-2012 05:48PM

Bullseye1 wrote: »

We must have one of the most corrupt excuses of politicians in Northern Europe. I'm sure they could give the Italians and Greeks a run for their money.

We are in a South American league of corrupt politicians if not better.

keano_afc · 23-03-2012 06:03PM

Does anyone really think Bertie is worried? Of course he isn't, and why should he be. There are no recriminations to be faced. All he has to do is look at Michael Lowry and know he has nothing to be concerned about. Lowry was found to have KNOWINGLY dodged tax, and aided O'Brien in acquiring the second mobile phone licence unethically. Lowry is the lowest of the low, a filthy human being whose corruption knew no bounds. Where is he now? Sitting in a jail cell or in his house regretting his actions? Nope, he's a sitting TD having topped the poll in the last election in his constituency, and despite a Dail motion passed recommending him to resign his seat, still has massive popularity in Tipp North.

There's a culture of cute hoorism in this country, and it shows no sign of stopping as long as the likes of Lowry and the Healy-Rae's get elected. I dont entirely blame Ahern at all, he's just one of many.

KeithAFC · 23-03-2012 06:11PM

Orando Broom wrote: »

What's the Protestant for 'troll'?

Also save your schadenfreude, your buckos up there are quick learners!

Excuse me?

Not everyone has the same opinion on Bertie Ahern. I thought that would have been accepted.

wendell borton · 23-03-2012 06:20PM

mrrepublic wrote: »

another with hunt to damage F.F. by F.G. brainless low lives.
come next election F.F. will be back in Government, The sooner the better.
at least they will abolish house charge et and get the country back on its feet. construction all thrived under F.F.

WTF.... you have to be trolling.

The thing that really pisses me off is that their are still people that admire bertie and not for the peace process, but for his shysterism.

KeithAFC · 23-03-2012 06:46PM

wendell borton wrote: »

WTF.... you have to be trolling.

The thing that really pisses me off is that their are still people that admire bertie and not for the peace process, but for his shysterism.

What is wrong with admiring one of the greatest Irish political figures in history who was instrumental in the greatest peace process the world has seen? A lot of people have a lot of time for Bertie Ahern and the hard work he put in with Tony Blair.

I would rather have Bertie Ahern than Tony Blair. It is amazing how this man gets no credit for the good work he done and yet more "suspect" should we say politicians get praised.

Biggins · 23-03-2012 06:55PM

KeithAFC wrote: »

What is wrong with admiring one of the greatest Irish political figures in history who was instrumental in the greatest peace process the world has seen?

We can thank/admire actions in that event. That don't mean we should accept the full package!

Should we all admire Pol Pot just because he chased the American army away - then went on to cause millions of deaths and suffering?

Should we admire Gadaffi because he supplied arms possibly to the IRA - but then might have been involved in the murder and/or cover-up of PC Fletcher and killing innocent civilians in a bombed plane?

Should we admire Mussolini for his antics with a German dictator just because he made the trains supposedly run on time?

All levels of badness - but for the acts of one or two things they might have done, does NOT whitewash their other actions nor does it hide they possible truer character!

Ahern has got LOADS of credit for his efforts over the North - all you have to do is a search on the net for words and news pieces alone on this.
Amazing that the true hero about the peace in the north, is shoved to one side and forgotten about bigger though!

John Hume - now THERE was a decent man, politician, human!
Ahern is not good enough to clean his shoes!

KeithAFC · 23-03-2012 06:59PM

Biggins wrote: »

We can thank/admire actions in that event. That don't mean we should accept the full package!

Should we all admire Pol Pot just because he chased the American army away - then went on to cause millions of deaths and suffering?

Should we admire Gadaffi because he supplied arms possibly to the IRA - but then might have been involved in the murder and/or cover-up of PC Fletcher and killing innocent civilians in a bombed plane?

Should we admire Mussolini for his antics with a German dictator just because he made the trains supposedly run on time?

All levels of badness - but for the acts of one or two things they might have done, does NOT whitewash their other actions nor does it hide they possible truer character!

All of that is much worse than anything Bertie Ahern has done. He isn't a saint but the great political figures never are. His legacy will be one of greatness on this island and the political moves he took to bring peace.

Biggins · 23-03-2012 07:01PM

KeithAFC wrote: »

All of that is much worse than anything Bertie Ahern has done. He isn't a saint but the great political figures never are. His legacy will be one of greatness on this island and the political moves he took to bring peace.

NO

JOHN HUME DID THAT.

The shyster just later after years/decades of effort by Hume (front stage and back), came along and signed on the dotted line!

KeithAFC · 23-03-2012 07:06PM

Biggins wrote: »

NO

JOHN HUME DID THAT.

The shyster just later after years/decades of effort by Hume (front stage and back), came along and signed on the dotted line!

John Hume did his part but so did Bertie Ahern. A guy who worked extremely hard with Tony Blair. He even got awarded in the Basque region for his efforts in the peace process in Spain.

Bertie Ahern statement/resignation

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