1997 campaign’s ‘heavy gang’ claims

ÁRAS archives — the stories that made the news in past presidential elections.

* Background: In 1997, there were five candidates: Mary McAleese, Mary Banotti, Adi Roche, Dana and Derek Nally. The latter, who ran as an independent, was a former garda who had taken to the justice minister in the 1970s his concerns about the brutality of the so-called “heavy gang” in the force. Two decades on, the repercussions were still felt.

* The headline: Nally wants ‘possible assassins’ to identify themselves.