FG under fire over ‘dirty tricks’ in Áras race

MARTIN McGUINNESS has accused Fine Gael of “black propaganda and dirty tricks” after the party launched a series of political attacks on the Sinn Féin presidential candidate.

He claimed he was willing to open up his bank account to prove that he took no more than the average wage as his salary, with other earnings going to the party.

This row came as Independent candidate Mary Davis four times failed to state in an interview how much she had earned from sitting on state boards.

The Áras race became increasingly bitter as Fine Gael candidate Gay Mitchell was joined by a senior minister and the Government chief whip in attacking Mr McGuinness’s IRA past.

* Environment Minister Phil Hogan told the Sunday Independent that US multinationals would be “appalled” if the country put “a terrorist in the park” and it could result in Ireland losing foreign direct investment (FDI).

* Government chief whip Paul Kehoe asked in a message on his Twitter social networking account: “Why would you need your salary when you have the proceeds of the Northern Bank at your disposal?”

* Mr Mitchell, in a head-to-head debate with Mr McGuinness on Newstalk, said it was “not true” that the Sinn Féin candidate had left the IRA in 1974 and took only the average wage as his salary.

The attacks were seen as a sign that Fine Gael believes Mr Mitchell can only win by confronting Mr McGuinness and positioning himself as the alternative to the Sinn Féin candidate.

But there was also a view in some political circles last night that Fine Gael already believe Mr Mitchell will lose and that the best thing the party can do now is ensure Mr McGuinness does not win.

Mr McGuinness reacted angrily to the attacks, saying: “All of this is part of the black propaganda and dirty tricks which has no validity to it whatsoever.”

In the debate, he pointed to his record of attracting FDI to the North as Deputy First Minister and said Phil Hogan would want to “catch himself on”.

On taking only the average wage from the Deputy First Minister’s salary of £112,000, he said: “I am willing to allow my bank account to be open, and I’m sure Sinn Féin are willing to allow their bank accounts to be open, to show that is the case.”

He later described the tweet about the Northern Bank as “absolute rubbish”.

Meanwhile, Mary Davis failed to clarify how much she earned from state boards over the past decade, amid varying reports suggesting the sum could range from €120,000 to €350,000.

Asked four times about the issue in an RTÉ interview, she kept insisting that the fees were “all very transparent” and “in the public domain”, but refused to state the amount.

It’s understood she did not know the exact figure and that efforts are being made by her campaign staff to tally the amount.

Fine Gael is expected to attempt a show of strength today, when Mr Mitchell formally launches his campaign.