The downfall of the ‘Teflon Taoiseach’

Bertie Ahern, the peace-maker politician who resigned as Ireland's leader on Wednesday, was known as the 'Teflon Taoiseach' in recognition of a long career in which no dirt ever seemed to stick to him. But he leaves after 11 years in as much disgrace as his mentor, Charles Haughey, the former Taoiseach who once described Ahern as the "most cunning, the most ruthless, the most devious of them all".

Ahern, who won three successive elections and played a key role alongside Tony Blair in the Northern Ireland peace process, was toppled by allegations over his personal finances and mystery cash gifts totalling more than £85,000. In an emotional speech, he denied any guilt: "I have never done anything corrupt in my office," he said. "I know in my heart of hearts that I have done no wrong and wronged no one. I have provided more detail about my private finances than anyone ever in public office." But he is going, and he is likely to be replaced by the deputy prime minister and finance minister Brian Cowen.

Ironically the body now investigating his personal finances - the Mahon tribunal - was set up in 1997 by Ahern himself to investigate links between politicians, builders and business figures. The tribunal discovered that Ahern, who studied accountancy at University College Dublin, did not have a personal bank account when he was Haughey's finance minister; investigators noted he cashed his government salary cheques in his north Dublin pub.