Truth takes a circuitous route in Dáil theatrics

Aftershocks from the Lowry scandal sparked a Mexican wave of accusation and innuendo as party leaders rose one-by-one in rapid succession to attack each other for being tainted by association with all manor of financial shenanigans.

Gerry Adams provoked uproar when he branded Fine Gael’s strangely routed acceptance of $50,000 from Esat two months after the outfit won the mobile phone licence as “money laundering”.

This was considered to be a slightly, shall we say, explosive, choice of words from the Sinn Féin leader by deputies on the Government benches who lapsed into an orgy of rather theatrical laughter after he delivered the line.