The former junior minister Mr Lorcan Allen was last night removed from the Fianna Fáil national executive and suspended from the party for at least a year after he admitted circulating bogus election literature purportedly signed by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
The party's official spokeswoman said the suspension of the former Wexford TD was endorsed by a "large majority" of the national executive at a meeting in Leinster House.
Mr Allen's suspension from the party will be reviewed after 12 months. Cllr Allen did not attend the meeting, but a letter in which he offered to resign from the executive was read out.
Mr Allen's suspension followed a recommendation from the party's rules and procedure committee.
Following consideration of a report by the party's general secretary, Mr Seán Dorgan, the committee has also ordered a review of the party's Wexford organisation.
At a lengthy meeting which continued past 10 p.m. last night, the executive also agreed to develop a new protocol for party candidates in all future elections.
Mr Allen apologised to Mr Ahern for using his signature, but appeared increasingly isolated in the face of public criticism from the Taoiseach and mounting pressure from party members. Mr Allen attributed his action to the "pressurised atmosphere of an intensive election campaign".
Mr Allen's re-admission to the party will be considered by the executive at the end of the year-long suspension.
In the aftermath of the recent elections, Mr Allen was reported to have denied any knowledge of the letters.
However, after an official inquiry, he claimed full responsibility for sending more than 2,000 letters in the run-up to the local election last month.
In the letters, Fianna Fáil supporters were urged to support Mr Allen over his running mate, Mr Pat Rath.
In the event, Mr Allen was elected while Mr Rath failed to be elected.
Mr Allen used pre-paid Oireachtas envelopes to post the literature, but it is believed that Mr Dorgan did not make any finding as to where he sourced the envelopes.
Mr Allen is known to have signed an election pledge in which he promised to refrain from any activity inimical to the prestige of the party and to uphold the highest standards of ethical behaviour.
Because of this, his position on the executive was seen to be untenable.
