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.