Bertie Ahern stood ready to intervene in Saipan controversy at urging of Tommie Gorman
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Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern stood ready to intervene in the 2002 Saipan controversy at the urging of RTÉ journalist Tommie Gorman.
Speaking to Paul Hosford on the 's Mick Clifford Podcast, Mr Ahern paid tribute to the journalist who died this week and said that Mr Gorman's famous interview with Roy Keane in the wake of his bust up with Mick McCarthy ahead of the 2002 World Cup almost served as the beginning of a mediated settlement.
Mr Gorman, from Sligo, died on Tuesday, having worked for RTÉ for more than 40 years.
He was its northern editor at the time of his retirement in 2021 having taken the job in 2001.
However, in 2002, he secured the only interview with the Irish captain after the infamous row at the island training camp in the Pacific.
Mr Ahern said Mr Gorman, not content with reporting the story, felt that a solution could be brokered and asked the then-taoiseach to be ready to intervene.
"It really was a divisive issue. I remember being at a retirement party and you almost had to get between people even though everyone was over 65!" he said.
"So Tommie went to Roy's agent and set about trying to solve it.
"He obviously knew the FAI guys through Sligo Rovers.
"Roy respected him, so he was trying to pull it all together and was making a lot of progress and I think he thought he was there.
"He contacted me and asked would I be prepared, if he could get them together, would I be prepared to help?
"I couldn't say no because it was such a huge thing and told him I would if he really thought he could help.
"But unfortunately it never got to that."
Mr Ahern said that he had "battled" Mr Gorman for many years and that there was "no soft interviews" with the Sligo man.
He said that Mr Gorman's role in communicating the intricacies of the North to a southern audience was "crucial".
Speaking on the same podcast, the former taoiseach also paid tribute to broadcaster Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh who also passed away on Tuesday.
He said that the GAA icon had contributed to a revitalisation of the GAA in the 70s, playing a key role in the rivalry between Kerry and Dublin in that era.
He said that Mr Ó Muircheartaigh was connected to communities across the country and that his passion and knowledge for GAA was an important part of its appeal.
"We'll never see the likes of Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh again," Mr Ahern said.