Cowen plays down fear of whine flu epidemic

BRIAN Cowen tried to play down the infection as just a touch of whine flu because the last thing he needs is it exploding into an epidemic of dissent, threatening his Government’s already frail health.

The outbreak centred on newly demoted backbencher John McGuinness so the Taoiseach wanted him quarantined, just to be on the safe side, even offering the ex-minister some sour grapes to help him over the hump.

Mr McGuinness had already expressed great unhappiness about his treatment at the hands of nurse Mary Coughlan, who he said was leaving small businessmen in her care to bleed to death. He then diagnosed senior staff at the Fianna Fáil Hospice for the Irish economy as themselves suffering from “paralysis”.