O’Keeffe sticks to coup claim

Experts on the constitution needn’t worry themselves — there’ll be no violent overthrow or a military junta ruling the country anytime soon, according to the Defence Forces.

An Evening Echo interview with retiring Cork East TD Ned O’Keeffe caused a media storm across the country yesterday when the Fianna Fáil man said he could see the possibility of an Army coup because of the financial crisis in the country.

The Mitchelstown farmer stood by his comments today, saying he was only calling it like he saw it.

The story has seen almost 10,000 hits on Politics.ie, as well as causing Twitter to go into overdrive.

It forced Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin to issue a denial on the campaign trail in Longford that the Army could take over.

“Absolutely not. I don’t know what’s happening in Kilworth but I don’t see any challenges in any shape or form. We have a great democracy in this country and this campaign bears that out.”

The Irish army also poured cold water on any such takeover.

“The Defence Forces serve the State every day of every year and we don’t involve ourselves in political matters,” said a spokesperson.

Article courtesy of the Evening Echo newspaper.