The Taoiseach did not sanction the use of his signature in a letter calling for support in the local elections for a former Wexford TD, Mr Lorcan Allen, according to sources close to an internal Fianna Fáil inquiry.
Some 2,000 copies of a letter bearing the signature of Mr Ahern urged voters in Gorey electoral area to support Mr Allen, a well-known local auctioneer and outgoing chairman of Wexford County Council.
The letter has led to a dispute in the party organisation in Wexford after Mr Allen was elected on the ninth count while his running mate, Mr Pat Rath, failed to be elected.
A farmer and first-time candidate, Mr Rath said yesterday he was "gobsmacked" to learn that the letters bearing the Taoiseach's signature had been sent out urging Fianna Fáil supporters to give their first-preference vote to Mr Allen.
While the championing of one candidate over another is against party policy, Mr Rath said he did the honourable thing of saying nothing about the letter before the election.
He contacted Fianna Fáil about the matter three days before polling day on June 11th and was disappointed not to have heard anything since then. "I had expected a statement and I'm disappointed that they didn't move quickly to deal with it," he said.
"Yesterday they assured me a statement would be issued, but to my knowledge no statement has yet been issued."
He said he regarded the use of the Taoiseach's signature as a very serious matter for the party. "I'm Fianna Fáil through and through, born and reared in the organisation," he added.
While it has been widely speculated in Fianna Fáil that Mr Allen will apologise to Mr Rath, he declined to comment when contacted yesterday. "I'm not making a statement until Monday," he said.