Mick Clifford: Fianna Fáil is being haunted by the ghost of Christmas past

Fianna Fáil's recent debacle over their disastrous presidential campaign brings to mind one of their past leaders which may afford Micheál Martin a salutary lesson, writes Mick Clifford

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin (left) faced criticism during a nearly five-hour parliamentary party meeting over the handling of Jim Gavin’s (right) presidential candidacy, following a review that revealed major failures in the selection process, including a lack of polling and repeated, unresolved concerns about a historic tenant dispute. File photo: Eamonn Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

The ghost of Christmas past popped into Leinster House this week for an update. This ghost first began haunting Fianna Fáil 40 Christmases ago. The ghost  — I’m unsure of its pronouns — came in the guise of the birth of the Progressive Democrats on December 21, 1985.

The PDs were formed as a result of opposition to a dictatorial leader of Fianna Fáil who had alienated a minority within the party. Sound familiar?