Sinn Féin hecklers had nothing to cheer about

I LOST whatever little — very little — respect I had for Sinn Féin after their disgraceful heckling of Tánaiste Michael McDowell when he was counted out of the Dáil last Saturday.

After enduring the pain of rejection by the voters in Dublin South East, Mr McDowell acted with great dignity while SF supporters only showed themselves up by their jeering — although they didn’t have much else to do after their own unimpressive performance.

I am a Fine Gael supporter who is saddened nonetheless by Mr McDowell’s departure as he was one politician who was not afraid to voice his opinion without regard to the political consequences. Love him or hate him, he was a strong character whose mistake was not to walk out on Bertie Ahern when he had the chance.