Two bad moments in a long political career

THE late John Wilson was, I’m sure, a fine public representative and minister over many years. He was also a noted classical scholar and Gaelic footballer.

However, I must say I was disappointed in him for two reasons.

First I heard him say once in a TV interview that the reason he entered politics in 1973 was that he felt Jack Lynch was not getting proper advice on Northern Ireland. What he meant by that I do not know.

Secondly, when the then Education Minister Gemma Hussey employed a Methodist schoolmaster as an adviser in her department, Mr Wilson, then opposition spokesman on education, accused her in the Dáil of employing “sectarian advice”.

This, I feel, was one of his very worst moments. It is also reported in Ms Hussey’s diaries. Maybe it was a Cavan thing, the border area near where I was born and reared, or whatever, but I must say thank God those memories are now history.

Brendan Cafferty

Creggs Road

Ballina

Co Mayo