Member of Bruton's staff took away papers, says Ahern

The Government is asserting, as a fact, that a member of Mr John Bruton's political staff "took away" papers which formed part of the weekly information-gathering "green books" prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

But the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said he was not suggesting that members of Mr Bruton's staff actually leaked the documents about Prof Mary McAleese and which were sent to Sunday newspapers.

As the row between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael about the leaks flared again yesterday, Mr Ahern told Mr Bruton, under privilege in the Dail that he would make it absolutely clear to him in a letter today that he [Mr Bruton] did not take any documents out. "However, I will not agree with the second part of his letter that none of his staff did", Mr Ahern added.

The new allegations prompted the three political members of Mr Bruton's staff, Mr Sean Donlon, Mr Roy Dooney and Mr Shane Kenny, to deny that they had leaked the contents of briefings with, and about, Prof McAleese.

Mr Donlon, who was the former Taoiseach's programme manager and Northern adviser, said he understood that he was the only member of Mr Bruton's staff to receive the weekly "green book" from the Department of Foreign Affairs. He said he did not remove, nor copy, the contents to anyone at any time.

Mr Bruton's special adviser, Mr Roy Dooney, said he never received the book. The former Government press secretary, Mr Shane Kenny, said that he received copies of some papers "relating to Northern Ireland from the office of the Secretary of the Department of the Taoiseach. These papers were cleared out of my office with all my effects at the end of my tenure". He was not involved in the leaking of any confidential documents, he stated.

Clarifying this statement, Mr Kenny said last night that the papers were removed "by myself and others packing them" last June. The Taoiseach offered "no comment" on these denials last night. He would be responding to Mr Bruton by confidential letter to day, his spokesman said.