The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today he was "unlucky" and got a "raw deal" after two businessmen fell out, leading to the Mahon tribunal looking into his finances.
Speaking on RTE radio's This Weekprogramme, Mr Ahern said although he accepted he had to go through the legal and judicial process, he felt "unfortunate" to get caught in the middle after developers Tom Gilmartin and Owen O'Callaghan fell out over a business deal.
The Mahon tribunal is investigating claims by Mr Gilmartin that the Taoiseach received money from Mr O'Callaghan while he was minister for finance, claims that have been repeatedly denied by both Mr O'Callaghan and Mr Ahern.
"I feel very very unlucky and unfortunate in the extreme that Mr O'Callaghan and Mr Gilmartin fell out over a business deal, and we understand businessmen fall out over business deals, and unfortunately one of them decided to say the other fella had given me money and then everything comes down on top of me," he said.
Mr Ahern said he had nothing to do with Mr Gilmartin, apart from meeting him a few times and trying to help him. He said he was unable to help Mr O'Callaghan as he didn't agree with his stadium concept.
"But I got in the middle and I think I was unlucky to do that and I think I got a raw deal out of it all. But that's life," he said. "I was desperately unlucky to find myself in that position."
The Taoiseach said there were certain matters that got him into trouble, including not using his bank account while he was going through his marriage break-up, and taking cash from friends.
Mr Ahern is due to step down as Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fail on Tuesday. He announced his intention to resign last month, saying it was "inspired by the desire to refocus the political agenda", and has denied any wrongdoing.
On Tuesday, Mr Ahern will attend his final engagement as Taoiseach at the Battle of the Boyne site with outgoing First Minister Ian Paisley. He will then deliver his letter of resignation to President Mary McAleese. Mr Ahern told This Week that he would continue to represent his Dublin Central constituency, but would decide in the future if he would run in the next General Elections.
On Wednesday, Minister for Finance and Tanaiste Brian Cowen will succeed him as Taoiseach. Mr Ahern described Mr Cowen as "as sharp as a razor and a very fine intellect".
"He is highly intelligent. He is a powerful speaker, far better than I would ever dream of being," he said.
"If there's a row on he won't be as polite as I am. If somebody wants a row with Brian if I was them I'd stay up late the night before preparing for it."
The Taoiseach said the country was now facing a number of challenges, the biggest of which was how the country would deal with the integration of immigrants. He warned that care was needed over how to handle it, and said failing to get it right could create huge problems.
"The integration of so much of the nations of the world that now form this country, looking after the educations, the new religions, the welfare, the extraordinary talents that many of these people bring but the challenges some of them bring, is going to be a big issue," he said.
"If we get it right, huge pluses for the country, if we get it half right it will create difficulties, if we don't get it half right there will be huge problems."