Bertie Ahern sends Christmas cards to dead constituents
Some voters living in Bertie Ahern's contiuency say the Dublin Central TD sent out multiple Christmas cards to the same address. Photo: Collins Photo Agency
Friday December 11 2009
FORMER Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has conceded that "errors were made" in the sending of multiple Christmas cards to constituents this year -- some of whom have died.
The Fianna Fail deputy came in for scathing criticism from locals in his Dublin North Central constituency yesterday, after several households received as many as six cards from him -- wishing them "a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year".
A spokeswoman for Mr Ahern said: "As regards the criticism that some people who have passed away have gotten Christmas cards, (his office) has done its best to update the list . . . but that was unfortunate.
"They will update the database for next year."
A number of recipients criticised the "insensitivity" of the cards -- coming the day after Brian Lenihan's toughest Budget to date. And many were furious that money was "squandered".
But Mr Ahern's spokeswoman said: "Bertie sends out the cards at his own expense. He sends personal cards every year and he pretty much sends them to the same people. He doesn't send them to every single person."
The spokeswoman added that Mr Ahern said he would be sending the cards again next year -- "so long as he is alive and well".
One constituent said he received two cards from Mr Ahern in the post yesterday morning. "I don't know if he's trying to sweeten people up for a run at the presidency, but he would have been better off donating the money to a welfare group."
Christopher O'Kelly, from Clonliffe Gardens in Drumcondra, also received two of the cards, in spite of the fact that he's never even voted for Fianna Fail.
"We all felt (in the community) that there was no need for this. I've never even voted for Fianna Fail, so I don't know why he's sending me cards."
- Colin Gleeson
Irish Independent
