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.

One poster with a picture of Mr Ahern says “who cried when this person was forced to resign?” with a large colour image of the former taoiseach.

Another highlights the lucrative pension Ms Hanafin can get as a former cabinet minister and claims that she will “cling to her €400,000 pension pot”.

The posters, statements, and copies of clippings from newspapers have been placed on phone booths, next to the local Dart station, at roadsides in the village, and on lamp posts on the seafront.

One features a previous newspaper report from 2008 and is headlined “Mary Hanafin, once a teacher, always a scold”.

It alleges that when she was a minister, she told a teacher voicing concern about a lack of a roof in a school to “answer the question you were asked”.

Ms Hanafin’s bid to secure a council seat has been mired in controversy after Fianna Fáil head-quarters did a U-turn and asked her to withdraw her bid.

This followed complaints raised by candidate, Kate Feeney, who objected to the party running somebody else.

Asked about the posters appearing in Blackrock last night, Ms Hanafin spoke as she got in her car as she made attempts to find them. “No doubt it’s Fianna Fáil tricks,” she joked initially.

However, she said she did not know who was behind them.

“I won’t be taking an income from the council if elected. I’ve said that. I want to give something back,” she said.

“I’ve never run a personalised campaign against anyone. I’ll stand up for myself.”

She said there had been no contact with Fianna Fáil headquarters since the falling out over her decision to run.

“I’m getting on with my campaign. I’m getting a very personal welcome. People are glad to see me back.”

She said she was taken “completely by surprise” by the poster attacks.