As it was then, so it now for Fianna Fáil

THE 1997 Fianna Fáíl election manifesto stated: "Crime in Ireland has become dramatically worse ... Organised crime has emerged as a vicious reality in Irish society. Crime threatens us on our streets in our homes and in our businesses."

What I would like to know is, was the party making a statement of fact as it saw it at the time, or painting a surprisingly accurate picture of what life in Ireland would be like after nine years of Fianna Fáil in Government?

So much for zero tolerance.