Bertie Ahern Resigns From Fianna Fail

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern resigned from Fianna Fail on Saturday after the publication of the final report from the The Tribunal of Inquiry Into Certain Planning Matters and Payments - also known as the Mahon Tribunal - revealed that he received at least €209,779 in under-the-table payments while in office and then lied while under oath to the Tribunal about the matter, finding that "Much of the explanation provided by Mr Ahern as to the source of the substantial funds identified and inquired into in the course of the tribunal's public hearings was deemed untrue."

The panel of judges, led by Alan Mahon did not however find him guilty of corruption though - pointing out that they had no evidence that he returned favors to the donors while serving as Minster of Finance in the 1980s.

The Tribunal also found two other former Fianna Fail TDs guilty of corruption, including former minister and European Union Commissioner Padraig Flynn, who also resigned from the party on Monday.

Mr Flynn was accused of accepting a sum of €63,500 that was handed over to him in his ministerial office by the developer Tom Gilmartin.

Also accused of wrongdoing were developer Owen O'Callaghan, the late Fianna Fail TD Liam Lawlor and 11 councillors from several parties.

After the release of the 3,211-page final report, Taoiseach Enda Kenny referred it to police, tax authorities, state prosecutors and the Standards in Public Office Commission, with former TDs potentially facing charges for obstruction of justice, corruption and tax evasion.

Mr Ahern continues to deny any wrongdoing though his former special advisor in government, Gerry Howlin, has described the Tribunal's findings as "far worse than anything I expected or believed possible."