No heave as Fianna Fáil faithful circle wagons

THERE were “no grumblings in Galway” over Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s leadership after the controversy resulting from his Morning Ireland radio interview vexed backbenchers but failed to re-ignite desire for a heave against him.

Mr Cowen got roaring approval from his party troops when he claimed in a press conference he was the victim of a “distasteful” personal campaign against him by Fine Gael, with Simon Coveney claiming he was between drunk and hungover during the radio interview.

But Jerry Beades, of the party’s national executive, said Mr Cowen’s performance was disappointing: “These are the kind of things that have been spoken about and the outrage from the public speaks for itself.”