Disastrous 2002 election battle forced Fine Gael to ‘relearn politics’

FINE Gael had to “relearn the whole science of politics” after its disastrous general election performance of 2002, its director of elections has admitted.

Frank Flannery said the polling day massacre, when Fine Gael lost 23 of its 54 seats in the Dáil, “appeared to almost presage the destruction of our party”.

Mr Flannery was speaking at a Fine Gael election rally in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, on Monday night.