FG denies special treatment for Kenny at airport

HAS Enda Kenny finally lost patience waiting for his turn?

After 33 years politely shuffling his feet towards the premier seat in Leinster House, has the Fine Gael leader learned to use his elbow?

Was Sunday afternoon the moment when the clean-cut deputy finally said to hell with the views of men, women and children, and declared it was his time to go somewhere? Or was getting caught committing the heinous social crime of queue-jumping a necessary evil in order to chair a European political meeting.

His party’s press office said Enda was motivated by the desire to be with his European peers but, either way, he has been caught jumping the line.

The incident happened at London’s Gatwick Airport on Sunday when an Aer Lingus plane was grounded after it was struck by lightning. Stranded passengers were told 60 people could be accommodated at 4.55pm but the remaining 60 would have to wait until 10.50pm and the airline asked for priority to go to young children, the sick, the elderly and those with pressing engagements. But one passenger, Emma, told RTÉ’s Liveline show yesterday such chivalry quickly went out the window.

“It was like rats on the Titanic, forget the women and forget the children... plenty of people without children skipped the queue,” she said.

Since 1975, Enda has never failed to take his seat in the Dáil and last Sunday he was not going to be left standing either.

A statement from his press office said a person travelling with him had asked Aer Lingus to accommodate the Fine Gael leader on the early flight.

“The staff member with Mr Kenny queued with other passengers to explain to the ground staff that Mr Kenny was due to host a meeting that evening in Dublin at 8pm of the presidency the European People’s party.

“Later, some passengers were told they could fly on the replacement flight and Mr Kenny and the staff member were included on this flight,” it said. “It is important to note Mr Kenny waited to recover his baggage with every other passenger. He did not seek or receive any special treatment. Mr Kenny travels regularly on scheduled flights and never seeks or receives any preferential treatment — the same applies on this occasion. Fine Gael rejects 100% any suggestion of favour,” it said.

Triona, who sparked the debate on Liveline, said if he had stayed he could have proved himself a leader of people. “This was a chance for him to be a leader and while everybody was looking for somebody to do something, but he didn’t,” said Triona.