Harney left ‘holding the baby’ after election loss

MICHAEL McDowell left Mary Harney “holding the baby” by resigning as PD leader the night he lost his seat in the general election, Liz O’Donnell has said.

In thinly veiled criticism, Ms O’Donnell, who was deputy leader of the party going into the election only to lose her seat as well, said she would have done things differently.

Following Mr McDowell’s abrupt departure, Ms Harney was left with little choice but to resume being party leader, even though she had no wish to.