Fine Gael TD provokes widespread scorn after claim for swing fall
Party blames poor local polls result on ‘hypocrisy’ as Maria Bailey feeds ire with witchhunt claim – and 10km run
It was a regular swing, with two ropes and a wooden slat, but when Maria Bailey fell off it a farce ensued which embarrassed Ireland’s government, pushed election results off the front pages, and set a new standard in political hara-kiri.
It began with a scene worthy of Mr Bean. Bailey, a TD (member of parliament) from Ireland’s ruling Fine Gael party, was on a night out with friends in the bar of Dublin’s Dean hotel in July 2015. The bar had a swing which Bailey sat on it while apparently clutching a beer in one hand and a friend’s wine bottle in another. Arguably this impeded her ability to balance. She toppled over.