Ireland’s Prime Minister announces resignation

Shawn Pogatchnik

Associated Press Writer

Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, the common-touch Dubliner who tended Ireland’s economic boom and the blossoming of Belfast peace, announced his resignation Wednesday under a darkening cloud of financial scandal.

The announcement stunned Ireland and much of his Cabinet, whose members stood by Ahern during an 18-month battle against allegations he accepted secret cash payments from businessmen in the 1990s.

Ahern, who governed Ireland through 11 years of growing prosperity at home and peace in Northern Ireland, maintained his innocence.

“I have never received a corrupt payment, and I’ve never done anything to dishonor any office I have held,” Ahern told a hastily called news conference on the steps of government headquarters. “I know in my heart of hearts I’ve done no wrong and wronged no one.”

Ahern said he would also step down as leader of Fianna Fail, Ireland’s largest party, on May 6, one week after he addresses Congress in Washington — an honor that reflects his pivotal role in Northern Ireland peacemaking over the past decade.

Opposition leaders said Ahern tarnished his legacy by not resigning sooner.

Kenny said Ahern’s administration, including heir apparent Deputy Prime Minister Brian Cowen, was complicit in a campaign of deceit.

“Not one of them confronted him. Not one of them disowned him. Not one of them were prepared to say that taking large sums of money was wrong, that it was wrong for (Ahern) not to pay his taxes, that it was wrong to use Fianna Fail money for private use,” Kenny said.

Analysts agreed that Ahern’s successor, almost certainly Cowen, will not call an early election — and will face much tougher economic times.