Sligo Today Editorial

The final nail in the ....

So much for infallibility. Not only did the catholic church actively and purposely hide their sexual deviants and allow them continue with their nefarious deeds, it has now emerged that the Pope, when he was a cardinal, did precisely the same and hid a perverted priest who sexually abused an 11 year-old boy. The priest re-offended and was subsequently charged with his heinous crime. It is now proven that the obnoxious secretive practice of moving these monsters about, like pieces on a chessboard, allowing them to prey on their innocent victims went right to the top of the now shamed organisation.

The audacity of those in power in this corrupt empire knows no bounds as was witnessed here in this green and pleasant land when a bishop based in Galway had the temerity to suggest that the parishioners pick up the legal tab for the church's evils. The amount in question was €600k a year for twenty years!!!

Sligo's Bishop Jones stated publicly that the media was at fault for highlighting the evil within the church when according to him 'it was happening more in families and had been doing so for hundreds of years'. That should be his final nail....his position is no longer tenable and he should, or be forced to, resign forthwith.

One final nail hammered into political life was the resignation of the Minister for Fun, Martin Cullen, who not only bailed out of ministerial office, just before the oncoming cabinet reshuffle, but threw away his Dail seat? This left the Cowen-led coalition administration even more exposed. Cullen could have retained his seat until the next general election by, because of his apparent illness, an agreed paring system could have given the government an added advantage in crucial Dail votes. But no, the margin is now dangerously close, just one more ship jumper and the government's nail along with Cowan's political career will be expecting the final strike of the hammer of doom. A lesson to be learned about perceived demotion and ally retention.

At least some legal eagles will be dancing all the way to the bank and some media organisations will be trembling, knowing that they will now have to fork out large dollops of filthy lucre to the now Citizen Cullen, whose trappings of ministerial power can no longer restrain him from unleashing the dogs of legal war onto his mortal enemies. He will be following his former PR handler Monica Leech's handsomely rewarded foray into the Four Courts (Goldmines). A speedy out-of-court settlements, like Friday's payoff by RTE, thought to be in the region of €250k, to defray some legal expenses in a case whose precedence is already established would be expected.

Another High Court case that could be settled in a covert deal for 'an undisclosed sum' could be the Lissadell v Sligo County Council case over alleged rights of way through the vast and impressive estate and house. With the legal bill already up to €4.5m it could be seen as prudent to secretly settle now before some careers end up on the anvil of fiscal opinion awaiting the final nail.

Speaking of Sligo matters, rumours abound of a certain councillor, no name, no party - yet, lips are still sealed - for now, who is preparing for a general election but as part of the announcement will forfeit a local authority seat, only one. This will be the perfect opportunity to co-opt a high-profile party stalwart back on board to ensure the party voting status quo remains. No nail there...more anon.

No nails in the bankers coffins as they still rake in obscene stipends to reward the dismal failures. Anglo Irish Bank, our recently nationalised bank, has issued proceedings against it's former CEO, Seanie Fitzpatrick for the recovery of a €70m loan, which he says he cannot repay. However the bank will not attempt to seize his home which is worth a couple of million Euro. How does that policy sit with the thousands of people who have had their family home repossessed for amounts as little as €22,000 due to these parasites...the banks.

By the way, NAMA employees are just starting work on the transfer of toxic debts this week. The first item on the bank employee's agenda was an increase of up to 70 per cent on their own salaries. The Finance Minister, Brian Lehihan duly obliged and, without fuss, signed off on the deal. All and sundry understood that public service employees were having their wages cut. NAMA is a semi-public body, so why the sudden largese. Nice to have friends in high and exalted places.

The real nail in the coffin should be the one to end the career of the hapless Health Minister, Harney. This incompetent overpaid buffoon continues to fly 'her' flag in New Zealand on a 14-day junket, with a host of liggers in her entourage, staying in the most luxurious hotels that the southern hemisphere has to offer, while debacle after debacle are exposed in her totally mis-managed portfolio. With the scandal of 58,000 un-reviewed x-rays and 3,000 unopened referral letters now in the public domain, her only response is that she doesn't 'want to meddle'.

Perhaps in the imminent reshuffle, if Cowan has the cojones, she won't have to meddle anywhere, in public life, anymore.

And what about her lackey, Drumm. His silence on the matter is deafening. He has developed the notable political disease of hiding in the trenches, waiting for the winds of change to blow over. He has steadfastly refused to honour the commitments of his office and face the public on this scandalous affair that has occurred on his watch while his organgrinder boss lives it up on the other side of the world.

So this week in the spirit of the Oscars, the Nail in the Coffin Award definitely goes to Harney...and Drumm...and Fitzpatrick....the Pope.....the Greens.....Bishop Jones....and all bankers, everywhere.

Add your own nominees here.............

Happy St.Patrick's Day to all,

Ciaran McCarthy
Editor
(Proud grandfather to Jack McCarthy - born yesterday 13th March 2010)














  

Posted on 14/03/10 : 10:16:59