McDowell the punter’s pal after bookie’s odd decision

IT’S that rarest of occurrences: a bookmaker losing money. But like many political opponents in the past, Paddy Power seems to have badly erred in betting against Michael McDowell this week.

At 4pm yesterday, the bookmaker suspending betting on the leadership race, with Mr McDowell priced at a staggering 1/33 to win.

That was in stark contrast to the previous evening, when, following Mary Harney’s announcement that she was stepping down, the bookmaker surprisingly made Liz O’Donnell the favourite to succeed her.