Mary Hanafin taken ‘completely by surprise’ at poster attacks

A dirty tricks campaign has been launched against former Education Minister Mary Hanafin in an bid to disrupt her attempt to win a local election seat in Blackrock, Co Dublin.

Posters have appeared overnight highlighting her link with disgraced former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, her lucrative pension, as well as previous reports about her attitude when she was minister.

The Irish Examiner learnt of the posters appearing in the leafy south Dublin suburb yesterday.