McGrath demonstrates his independent streak

MATTIE MCGRATH certainly knows how to speak his mind. But up to the dramatic events of this week, he had been regarded by many in Leinster House as the boy who cried wolf – constantly threatening rebellion but never quite delivering on it.

In recent months alone, he had criticised Government proposals to reduce the drink-driving limit, criticised its response to the weather crisis, criticised the fact that senior civil servants were spared the full effect of the public service pay cut, criticised the Cabinet reshuffle and so on.

It was rare for a Government backbencher to speak his mind so honestly – and the media loved his candour.