Former taoiseach Ahern fractures leg

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern fractured his leg after falling down a flight of stairs earlier today.

Mr Ahern was treated after the accident in the Mater Hospital, near his constituency office in north Dublin, where it is understood the incident happened.

“He has fractured his leg after falling down some stairs. It was an accident,” a Fianna Fáil spokewoman said.

She said Mr Ahern would be on crutches for a number of weeks with his injury.

However, it is believed that he will not miss a crucial Dáil vote on the medical card controversy tomorrow night.