Group stages anti-corruption picket ahead of Ahern 'explanation'
An anti-corruption rally outside the Dáil today called for crooked politicians to be jailed just hours before Taoiseach Bertie Ahern delivers the biggest speech of his political career.
In a bid to end a 13-day leadership crisis, Bertie Ahern will come clean on why he accepted €11,800 from businessmen in a Manchester hotel as Finance Minister.
Mr Ahern claims the unsolicited 1994 cash, as well as an earlier €50,000 loan from 12 friends, helped him fund his marriage separation and were not political donations.
Up to 30 supporters of the People Before Profit group staged a rally outside the Dáil as Mr Ahern put finishing touches to his statement inside.
One placard showed Mr Ahern dressed in a tuxedo with the caption: 'Pimp My Party: What's €50,000 between friends?'
Another featured photographs of Mr Ahern and disgraced former Taoiseach Haughey. Another declared: "Jail the Corrupt Politicians".
Rally spokesman Rory Hearne said: "We held this protest because a lot of people are turned off politicians. People are immune to scandals at this stage with all the tribunals going on.
"Politicians are still looking after the interests of big business and not ordinary people - that double-dealing golden circle at the top is still around.''
Mr Hearne claimed that opposition parties like Fine Gael and Labour were also guilty of corruption in the past.
The only politician to support today's rally was Cllr Joan Collins, an independent member of Dublin City Council.
People Before Profit was set up a year ago as a protest group to campaign for community issues.
