Ahern incurs wrath of Paudge Behan

It was not appropriate for the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to officially unveil a statue of Brendan Behan as there was "nobody further removed" from the writer's spirit, a member of the Behan family has said.

Mr Paudge Behan, the son of Brendan Behan's widow Beatrice, said his family did not choose to have Mr Ahern officiate at the unveiling of a statue to Behan at the Royal Canal, Dublin, yesterday, and he "was not happy" that the Taoiseach attended.

Speaking at the event, Mr Ahern said that along with other Dubliners he was proud that Brendan Behan, "hailed from these parts". Referring to the statue of Patrick Kavanagh at the Grand Canal, on the south side of the city, he added, "I know I'm slightly biased as a northsider, but I think it's about time the scales were balanced."

When asked to say a few words after the Taoiseach's address, Mr Behan addressed Mr Ahern directly saying: "There is nobody further removed from Behan's spirit than yourself."

Mr Behan later explained that his family had not been consulted about who would attend the event in an official capacity and he wasn't pleased the Taoiseach attended.

"What has Bertie Ahern in common with Brendan Behan, other than they are both Irish? When you see what is happening with the fat cats in this country, with Bertie Ahern and his Government, I can't think of anyone further from the spirit of Brendan Behan. Shannon being used as an American air base for waging war on another country, was that in the spirit of Brendan Behan?"

Mr Behan said he was very pleased with the statue, a life-size bronze sculpted by John Coll, depicting Behan as a young man seated on a canal bank bench. "It's a beautiful piece of art, very cleverly designed."

The unveiling of the statue was attended by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Royston Brady, the Dublin City Manager, Mr John Fitzgerald, and actor Niall Tóbín.