Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »

Thu 09 Sep 2006Pressure on Ahern eases as Tanaiste lends supportThe political pressure on the Taoiseach eased last night after he received the qualified backing of Tánaiste Michael McDowell, who described Mr Ahern's acceptance of money from friends in 1993 and 1994 as "an honest error of judgment."Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny focused on another payment to Mr Ahern by a group of Manchester businessmen and warned that his position could become untenable.