The former US president, Mr Bill Clinton, has dismissed reports he is about to buy a duplex home at the K Club in Co Kildare or anywhere else in Ireland. Conor O'Clery reports from New York
A spokeswoman for Mr Clinton told The Irish Times yesterday: "It's not true. He has not bought nor has he any intention of buying a house or condominium in Ireland."
Last week, Mr Arthur French of French Estates, who is handling the marketing of the golf homes, said he had shaken hands on the deal with Mr Clinton and he expected him to be taking over his new duplex home later this summer.
Mr French was a guest of the former president on July 6th when they played in a foursome at Royal County Down golf course in Northern Ireland. Last night, Mr French said he had no comment to make.
His son, Mr John Bosco French, told a reporter last week that Mr Clinton decided on the K Club after playing with Mr French.
The prospect of the first purchase of property in Ireland by a former American president was reported internationally.
The spokeswoman was unable to say if or why Mr Clinton had changed his mind on a deal that seemed concluded. She said he was in Ireland last week to play golf and to receive a $110 million Government commitment for his foundation to fight AIDS in Africa.
In private conversation with a group of supporters about two months ago, Ms Hillary Clinton said that she had heard the reports that her husband intended buying property in Ireland and she said they were not true, according to one of those present.
Mr Clinton, a keen golfer, was reported to have been involved in private negotiations with the developers over several months and to have deferred the deal on a number of occasions, most recently because of the invasion of Iraq.
A foreign residence would pose enormous security problems for Mr Clinton's secret service detail, especially with the ongoing US war on terrorism.
It is not known if security played a part in Mr Clinton's apparent change of mind.
The K Club, which includes a five-star hotel, top-class restaurants and two 18-hole courses, has a high level of security.
Homes similar to the 130 sq metres duplex unit Mr Clinton was reported to be looking at have been selling at €1.2 million.
K Club residents include the Monte Carlo racehorse owner Mr Michael Tabor; Mr Tom Coughlan, the chief executive and chairman of Wal-Mart, the world's largest supermarket group; Mr Gerry Gannon, the Dublin-based property developer; Mr Paddy Wright, the RTÉ chairman; Mr Garry McGann, Smurfit chief operations officer, and New York hotelier Mr John Fitzpatrick.
Mr Michael Smurfit has bought three apartments even though he also has a detached home in the grounds.