Fianna Fáil has denied paying for an aircraft that flew a 'Thank You, Bertie' banner over Croke Park during the closing ceremony for the Special Olympics.
The aircraft could be seen by large numbers in the crowd for the Games' final moments, including a number of senior politicians such as Government Chief Whip, Ms Mary Hanafin.
However, a Fianna Fáil spokesperson confirmed to The Irish Times that the banner 'had had nothing to do with it, I am glad to say'.
A Special Olympics spokesman said the banner 'had certainly been noticed'. "But we have no idea where it came from. It wasn't a Games thing," he said.
The presence of the Taoiseach had been properly recognised by the Games' organisers, he said. "There is no doubt that he has been outstanding on the Games front. Whether he has been outstanding on the wider issue of disability is another matter."
Green MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna said the banner waving had been 'an inappropriate publicity stunt', which was 'cheap and exploitative'. "It was designed to give the impression that the Special Olympics were held here solely thanks to Bertie Ahern. This is exactly the kind of ego-tripping that Louis Walsh warned about," she declared.
