While greedy politicians play the victim I can only think of my dead niece

LIKE every citizen I am completely outraged by the expenses of our politicians. But I am disappointed that the loudest voices are not those of the ordinary people but the same men and women who plead victimisation in their fantasy political world.

Are we really meant to feel sorry for John O’Donoghue and his wife swanning around Cannes and many other exotic destinations? Does Brian Cowen or Bertie Ahern really expect me to worry over Mary Harney and her husband as they watched the Super Bowl in Arizona?

In 2003, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl and in that same year my beautiful two-year-old niece, Roisín, died in her mother’s arms due to the cancellation of a much-needed operation. As Brian Cowen has accused us of dancing on graves, I want to ask him where he and his cronies were on the night of July 1, 2003 when my sister tried to revive her innocent baby? What world are these people living in? It is ironic that the Taoiseach should use the graves analogy to gain pity for his friends. The reality for some families, Mr Cowen, is the pain of real graves brought about by the excuse that we do not have enough money to save our sick and vulnerable children and adults.

My niece was denied an operation because there was no bed available in the intensive care ward in Crumlin. In other words, not enough money for a nurse to mind our toddler.

Roisín was not a statistic — she was a mischievous and funny little girl. She fought from the day she was born to live a normal existence. She trusted us adults and she was let down.

She was to have her first communion this year. She would have loved this day with her younger sister who, tragically, she never got to meet. She was so loving and she is missed every day. What about all the others who lost a loved one in similar circumstances?

Where were the politicians? Maybe they were in Venice or Arizona or in Fagan’s pub playing the role of the lonely man crying into his pint because he needed a handout, or was it that Manchester United lost a game? Bertie Ahern’s portrayal of himself as a desolate man deserves an Oscar. I felt we were expected to help our leader find his elusive savings and console him for living through a sad but normal event. His arrogance is revealed by his shameless pursuit of the Áras.

The time has come to get rid of this useless office. Would not the Áras make a fantastic children’s hospital or a residence for the many homeless teenagers living rough in the vicinity.

I ask proud Irish women to stand up and fight for our country because, unfortunately, many of our female politicians are disappointing, to say the least.

In the next election think with your hearts. Be outraged — otherwise how will we explain our indifference to our children. We cannot afford to burn bras but maybe we can burn the eulogies of this government. And the likes of John O’Donoghue should remember that while they all enjoyed the high life a helpless little girl was losing her precious life. So do not ask me or any Irish mother, sister or daughter to feel sorry for any of you when you chose greed instead of honour.

Maggie Quain O’Riordan,

Ballygrogan

Grenagh

Co Cork