THE TRUSTEES OF the famous St Luke’s office in north Dublin have agreed to transfer control of it back to the Fianna Fáil party.
The building at the centre of former taoiseach Bertie Aherns’ political career was controlled by members of the so-called ‘Drumcondra mafia’ who last night released a statement saying that they wished to ensure the ownership of the building would pass to the national Fianna Fáil party.
A spokesperson for the party told TheJournal.ie this morning that it could confirm that the trustees “have agreed to transfer control of the building to the party centrally”.
Less than a year ago, it was reported that Ahern was looking to retain control of the office and that a new group of trustees would replace Tim Collins, Des Richardson and Joe Burke, three members of the so-called ‘Drumcondra Mafia’.
However, the findings of the Mahon Tribunal and subsequent fallout which has included the resignation of Ahern from the Fianna Fáil party means that the retention of the building was unlikely.
Ahern is reported to have told the trustees to co-operate with Fianna Fáil headquarters in transferring the building back to the party. At certain times over the past 20 years he has lived in an apartment above the office in Drumcondra.
Meanwhile, the meeting of Fianna Fáil’s Ard Comhairle goes ahead this evening at 5pm to discuss a motion for a proposed “root and branch” review of the party’s organisation in Dublin Central.
Motions to expel six members including Ahern and former minister and EU Commissioner Pádraig Flynn in the wake of the Mahon findings have been dropped after all six tendered their resignations from the party this week.
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