FF colleagues went behind my back at the end, says Ahern
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BERTIE Ahern has accused Brian Lenihan and Mary Coughlan of bad-mouthing him behind his back in his final days as Taoiseach.
Mr Ahern said the Finance Minister and the Tanaiste were nice to his face but he knew what they were saying to their Fianna Fail colleagues in Leinster House.
"If they had come into me and said some of the things I know they were saying against me, I could have taken it," said Mr Ahern.
"I know what they were saying -- you're not around as leader for 14 years and . . . your intelligence (network) isn't good. So, I knew what they were saying.
"They were getting jittery and nervy and you know, you know the stuff that people do. People are nice to your face, talking behind your back."
Forgive
He added: "Listen, I forgive them all. But if you have something to say to Bertie Ahern, I'd always rather people say it to my face."
Mr Ahern also revealed his marriage broke up because he didn't "play it straight" and that his refusal to remarry was a factor in his split with long-time partner Celia Larkin.
Speaking about the break-up with his wife Miriam, Mr Ahern told TV3's Ursula Halligan that she was right to split with him when he was involved with his political adviser, Ms Larkin.
Accepting total responsibility, Mr Ahern admits: "I didn't play it straight and that was the problem. Ultimately she got fed up with that and you know 'que sera'. She was right."
In the first programme in Ms Halligan's new series 'This Is', to be broadcast on TV3 tonight, the former Taoiseach also speaks about his 20-year relationship with Ms Larkin, how he refused to consider marrying her and how that played a part in their eventual break-up.
And he reveals how he misses Ms Larkin and how lonely he has been since they parted.
"Life wasn't so bloody lonely or boring when Celia was around," says Mr Ahern, who added he most missed her company when he attended international functions abroad.
"When I went away and she accompanied me on some of the bigger trips, when you needed a partner or a spouse, otherwise you were out of the loop."
He continued: "And gee, I can tell you there was nothing worse than going to some of the international functions and you were the only one that hadn't got somebody."
Mr Ahern was also convinced that someone (and he hints that it was some one in Fianna Fail) was "working day and night" to destroy his political career.
"Oh yeah," said Mr Ahern. "There was one person working overtime, you know, out to damage me and I know who the person is. But the laws of libel have told me and my solicitors (have warned) me that you can't name (the person), but there was one person, working night and day to screw me up and I think I know why and I think I know how, but, but you know buts."
Asked if is happy with how his life turned out, Mr Ahern isn't so sure.
He answered: "It's hard to (say). I've enjoyed it at times but you know, you ask a good question and the question is: was it all worth it?"
He added: "I can't say. I can't say. I can't give you a straight answer to that but I can give you a truthful answer. I'm not sure."
- Sam Smyth
Irish Independent
