Donaldson Survivor of the Year award a black twist

IT was a macabre twist worthy of a crime novel - at precisely the same time news broke of Denis Donaldson’s murder last night, a news magazine was about to announce him winner of its Survivor of the Year award.

Several weeks ago, Magill magazine assembled political journalists - including this reporter - to vote on awards including Politician of the Year, Minister of the Year, Gaffe of the Year and Survivor of the Year.

During judging for that last category, one journalist suggested Donaldson.

The IRA’s cessation of violence meant it wasn’t in a position to deal with the ‘tout’ in the preferred way - with a bullet. It appeared Donaldson had survived several decades of Russian roulette and the panel, taken with the black humour, duly chose the winner.

At the awards ceremony in Dublin last night, Magill simply announced the award had been cancelled.

In fact, the entire ceremony at Buswell’s Hotel was overshadowed by the events of the day.

The fatal school bus crash in Clara, Co Offaly, meant neither Education Minister Mary Hanafin, who won Politician of the Year, nor Clara native Finance Minister Brian Cowen, Minister of the Year, were present.

Other awards went to Fergus O’Dowd, TD of the Year for campaigning on the nursing homes issue and Terry Leyden, Senator of the Year for drawing up a bill to establish a central office to register wills.

Ivor Callely won Gaffe of the Year for the botched handling of his resignation, Heckler of the Year went to Fine Gael TD Michael Ring for his Dáil quips and Liz O’Donnell was voted Best Dressed Politician.