Talking heads, actors and news hysteria

I’M sure I am not the only person who found some of the coverage of the Mahon Tribunal excessive.

Six One News co-presented from Dublin Castle, the usual talking heads rolled out on radio, re-enactments from transcripts, etc. This excessive coverage has been going on for some time now, but it took on an extra air of hype and hysteria (February 21) during the Taoiseach’s latest appearances. Even the opposition have been getting in on the act.

Having ignored the issue for the whole election campaign last year, they are now reaching conclusions even before the tribunal itself has done so.

Obviously, the opposition’s sense of political expediency has changed since the election. However, the fact remains that not one shred of evidence has been produced to support the one allegation made against the Taoiseach, namely that he took money from Owen O’Callaghan in return for political favours for his Quarryvale development. This is despite hours of evidence (including a whole day where planning or Quarryvale wasn’t mentioned once), much questioning about the Taoiseach’s constituency office, about bequests from his family and the farcial production of ‘star’ witness Eamon Dunphy.

I believe it doesn’t matter how many more hours the Taoiseach is compelled to answer questions. Tribunal counsel Des O’Neill isn’t going to discover any evidence to link Bertie Ahern to corrupt payments because no such evidence exists.

Regardless of that, it is often forgotten that the Taoiseach isn’t on trial at the tribunal. Even if he was, he would be entitled to the presumption of innocence that applies to every other citizen. The opposition would do well to remember that.

Declan Harmon

Whitethorn Crescent

Palmerstown

Dublin 20