Irish Examiner view: A political party digging holes

Sinn Féin’s declarations

The bravado of the Sinn Féin leadership in the Dáil when railing against the alleged “crimes” of Paschal Donohoe was as impressive as it was self-defeating; it only encouraged political rivals and the media to question the party’s own financial arrangements.

The art of digging a hole for yourself is one that has been successfully practiced by Irish politicians for many, many years. It was perhaps best encapsulated by the actions of Fianna Fáil during the 1990 presidential election campaign.

Think of the late Brian Lenihan Sr and his “on mature reflection” speech to the nation after a tape emerged in which he admitted making phone calls to the then-President Patrick Hillary, trying to influence him over an issue relating to the dissolution of the Dáil back in 1982.