Michael Clifford: The reality is that golfgate struck a public nerve

Legally, as Judge Fahy noted, everything was done correctly — but the symbolism of what the gathering represented is what provoked all the outrage, writes Michael Clifford.

Pictured on the first day of the golfgate trial were former Fianna Fáil senator Donie Cassidy, Independent TD Noel Grealish, and hoteliers John Sweeney and James Sweeney.

In the end, most of the big guns in the golfgate trial didn’t have to fully earn their corn. 

Before the senior counsel for three of the four defendants had a chance to make long submissions, Judge Mary Fahy declared she’d heard enough.