Fianna Fáil has finalised a deal to sell former taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s former constituency base of St Luke’s for almost €180,000 above the asking price.
At a meeting last night, the party’s ard chomhairle approved the sale for €774,000, well above the initial asking price of €595,000.
The 1,900sq ft Drumcondra building, opposite Fagan’s, Mr Ahern’s local pub, was put on the market in March.
It is understood funds from the sale will go towards debt payments and funding the party's General Election campaign.
St Luke’s was bought in 1988 for £56,000 (about €78,000) by a group of Mr Ahern’s associates shortly after he had separated from his wife.
Under the arrangement, the group established a trust administered by some of Mr Ahern’s closest followers, including Des Richardson, Joe Burke and Tim Collins, who came to be known as the Drumcondra Mafia.
The trust finally signed the building over to Fianna Fáil in late 2012.
Lisney were the agents who handled the sale.
