Caught red-handed

RUAIRI QUINN’S pre-election promise came back to haunt him as he admitted a hike in college charges was “under consideration” while thousands of students marched in opposition.

Just nine months after he signed a pledge outside Trinity College not to re-introduce fees, increase registration charges or cut grants, busloads of students travelled to Dublin to urge him to keep his word.

Shortly before they arrived outside Leinster House, Mr Quinn told the Dáil that the Government “control neither the chequebook nor the policy in relation to a range of such public expenditures”.