McDowell 'admires his fiercest critic most'

Tough-talking Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has declared his admiration for one of his fiercest critics in the Dáil.

In a candid interview in a student magazine, the outspoken TD revealed his love of fantasy novels and romantic movies, naming Lord Of The Rings as his favourite book and Casablanca as his film of choice.

But his most surprising disclosure came when he revealed that Independent Tony Gregory is the Opposition TD that he most admires in the Dáil.

Mr McDowell also talks about his student days at University College Dublin in the interview in Trinity College’s current Miscellany, which is also the cover story.

Despite his hardline image, he describes himself as a liberal.

Mr Gregory today said he couldn’t fathom Mr McDowell’s comments and that the admiration expressed by the Tanaiste certainly wasn’t mutual.

“I don’t know how to take that. That could very well lose me votes,” he said, adding: “He is certainly not my most-admired politician.”

Mr McDowell also revealed that he would serve as a lowly TD in the Dail if the Progressive Democrats don’t get into Government and he is forced to leave high office.

“If you’re asking me would I just resign and go off in a huff down to the Law Library and throw in my seat? No, I wouldn’t do that.”

Of his student days in the late 1960s, the TD also hinted he may have skipped lectures.

“In UCD in those days, if you didn’t turn up for your lectures nobody noted it, and if you didn’t turn up for tutorials, nobody noted it – it was your own problem.”

On his secret admirer, Mr Gregory said: “I find it quite extraordinary that one of the most right wing TDs in the Dail and a member of the country’s most right wing party would say that.

“It goes against his public utterances in relation to me and other independents.

“He is the minister who said that inequality is necessary in society for economic growth. I don’t think that’s the utterance of a liberal.

“I can’t fathom it at all. I’d never have thought the PD voters would be my way inclined.

“He is going for the populist answer. He is playing clever. He is not answering truthfully.”

Mr Gregory said that Mr McDowell has constantly referred to him as an extreme leftist, warning supporters the Independent could form part of a possible Rainbow Coalition after the General Election.