Mick Clifford: Political leaders risk credibility by peddling unfounded conspiracy theories

Mainstream politicians adopting fringe conspiracy rhetoric risk eroding trust, fuelling division, and undermining Ireland’s democratic debate

Former journalist Gemma O’Doherty produced a film about her theory that the presumed murder of a child spawned a major cover-up that involved Fianna Fáil and the gardaí.

Conspiracy theories have come in from the cold. There was a time when such theories were confined to the fringes, but no more. One only has to look at how the Jeffrey Epstein case has transfixed the American body politic.

Donald Trump propagated the theory that some form of deep state — including Democrats — had questions to answer around associations with the late paedophile. Then he got into power and saw that it was in his best interests to dismiss these theories, but the followers he had pumped up are now even more suspicious.