McCarthyism — the modern Irish version

IN the 1940/’50s, the US endured the terrible scourge of Senator Joseph McCarthy who typified the extreme anti-communist movement in the US during that period.

The terms “reds under the bed” and “McCarthyism” were coined around that time.

Fast-forward to Ireland in 2009 and we have our own brand of McCarthyism. Ordinary citizens here now live in fear of closures of hospital wards and rural garda stations, to name but two. Hard-working citizens are now almost afraid to admit to being employed thanks to McCarthyism 2009-style.