Michael D’s passionate idealism burns as strongly as ever

THE story sounds extraordinary - but then Michael D Higgins is no ordinary politician.

It’s January 2003 in Baghdad and Iraq’s tough-talking deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz, is discussing the prospects for war with an Oireachtas delegation.

Initially Mr Aziz’s eyes wearily register the presence of yet another well meaning but powerless group of foreign politicians. But then something unexpected happens.