Fine Gael TD sues Dublin Hotel after falling off swing

_Kaiser_

So Leo didn't even have the balls to temporarily remove the whip as was predicted the other day. The threats she made during the infamous interview to expose things must not have been idle.

The timing of this almost-as-shambolic statement from him in the midst of Boris becoming leader/PM across the way is a blatant attempt to bury the story and 2 fingers to the electorate who he/they are taking as idiots.

But what this REALLY suggests to me is that Bailey is merely the tip of the iceberg here, or potentially the small fry. What are FG actually hiding??

JeffKenna

So the report concludes that Ms Bailey signed “an affidavit (linked to a personal injuries summons) that over-stated the impact of her injuries on her running”.

However the affidavit stated she couldn't run "at all" for three months after.

I'd love to see how the conclusion is formed. It seems to me she outright lied about her running.

is_that_so

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Seemingly is_that_so decided to delete that comment

What comment?

is_that_so

WealthyB wrote: »

Looking forward to the Dean Hotels response!

There won't be any as the case was dropped.

MrTrebus

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Big leaps of logic going on there, JD. This happened before she was a TD and Enda/Leo werent aware of it. It’s like saying SF are ok with child murderers and bombers because they have em in the party.

bull****..nothing like a bit of deflection huh !

holyhead

Varadkar was in a very tricky position. If Bailey loses the whip the threat of a general election moves closer. In not removing the whip Varadkar looks weak and the whole clampdown on fraudulent claims loses credibility. Bailey herself still hasn't learned. In her statement today she is hanging on to some legal advice that her case wasn't fraudulent. The public believe it was fraudulent. A T.D. operates in the arena of public opinion and live and die by same. As for mitigating circumstances which Varadkar referenced. Well that's just tosh. Bailey created this mess and brought the ire of the public on her by taking the claim in the first place and then her catastrophic interview.

1. Anyone who needs instructions on how to operate a swing is clearly not the brightest light in the harbour.
2. Anyone who operates a swing with a bottle/glass in one hand is asking for trouble.
3. Anyone who can't remember whether they had a bottle/glass in one hand is a candidate for dementia or suffering from selective memory.
4. Anyone who feels they are ENTITLED to take a case for something so ridiculous invites ridicule.
5. Anyone who claims they can't move for weeks after an accident and then posts a picture of herself doing a marathon four weeks later is
plain stupid.

Credit to the hotel for not rolling over. They are about the only party who emerge with any semblance of common sense and backbone in this whole mess.

_Kaiser_

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

But what this REALLY suggests to me is that Bailey is merely the tip of the iceberg here, or potentially the small fry. What are FG actually hiding??

Bailey is so interwoven into the fabric of FG (why would she be accorded the whip initially?), that any threat against her removal is stifled by others being potentially exposed as equally corrupt or worse. It's a powerful negotiation tool, and evidently Leo had to meekly back down. Which in the larger scheme of things, makes a mockery of the "inquiry" conducted and the voting public seeking accountability for a fraudulent insurance claim pursued by an elected official in Dáil Éireann.

ChikiChiki

Being discussed on the Tonight Show. Intro with "Is it a good day to bury bad news and has FG gone far enough?"

Lol, backfiring spectacularly. The Irish brass neck politician is really a thing. If it happened across the water they would have resigned.

Shefwedfan

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Bailey is so interwoven into the fabric of FG (why would she be accorded the whip initially?), that any threat against her removal is stifled by others being potentially exposed as equally corrupt or worse. It's a powerful negotiation tool, and evidently Leo had to meekly back down. Which in the larger scheme of things, makes a mockery of the "inquiry" conducted and the voting public seeking accountability for a fraudulent insurance claim pursued by an elected official in Dáil Éireann.

What it has shown is Leo has little to no power as leader of the party

lola85

Out of all the things that might bring FG down to get caught out on this is amateur hour as far as no one in the party seen it coming.

I guess things got to comfortable.

_Kaiser_

Shefwedfan wrote: »

What it has shown is Leo has little to no power as leader of the party

Well we know that... the party membership wanted Coveney, but were overruled so Varadkar could tick another item off his bucket list :rolleyes:

If Brexit turns out to be a disaster for this country (as is increasingly likely), then Coveney too will lose the goodwill he's built up too - although I still say he'd be far worse for the country. Varadkar may be superficial and an empty suit, but some of Coveney's views would be far more damaging if he had any real power.

The problem here is timing.. Brexit has another few months to play out and our TD's won't want to be electioneering in the late autumn/winter. Plus there's the October budget which may be nastier than expected depending on what Boris does.

Assuming all the above happens, FG's hold on Government will be even more untenable than it's been since Enda setup the current mess to serve his own ego, but FF won't want to pull the plug until the Spring.. which leaves us with another uncomfortable 5/6 months of limbo at a time (due the factors above) we can probably least afford it.

WoollyRedHat

Can anyone submit a FOI request that would reveal the full extent of Madigans involvement, as a matter of public interest with consideration to her current role as a cabinet minister?

Snow Garden

This story is running for over 2 months now.
It's still being handled very very poorly.
The new statement throws up even more questions and will use up a lot of ink over the next few weeks.

I hope this will send a clear message to other public representatives about taking such cases in future.

Interesting that the FG/IFP statement did not mention Farrell by name when he actually made money from his fraudulent claim.

Snow Garden

holyhead wrote: »

Varadkar was in a very tricky position. If Bailey loses the whip the threat of a general election moves closer. In not removing the whip Varadkar looks weak and the whole clampdown on fraudulent claims loses credibility. Bailey herself still hasn't learned. In her statement today she is hanging on to some legal advice that her case wasn't fraudulent. The public believe it was fraudulent. A T.D. operates in the arena of public opinion and live and die by same. As for mitigating circumstances which Varadkar referenced. Well that's just tosh. Bailey created this mess and brought the ire of the public on her by taking the claim in the first place and then her catastrophic interview.

1. Anyone who needs instructions on how to operate a swing is clearly not the brightest light in the harbour.
2. Anyone who operates a swing with a bottle/glass in one hand is asking for trouble.
3. Anyone who can't remember whether they had a bottle/glass in one hand is a candidate for dementia or suffering from selective memory.
4. Anyone who feels they are ENTITLED to take a case for something so ridiculous invites ridicule.
5. Anyone who claims they can't move for weeks after an accident and then posts a picture of herself doing a marathon four weeks later is
plain stupid.

Credit to the hotel for not rolling over. They are about the only party who emerge with any semblance of common sense and backbone in this whole mess.

Great post.

Shemale

Suckit wrote: »

They did, and Ende was there to witness it.

Some lineup Fr Fintan Stack, Fr Dougal Maguire and Quagmire.

skimpydoo

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

Big leaps of logic going on there, JD. This happened before she was a TD and Enda/Leo werent aware of it. It’s like saying SF are ok with child murderers and bombers because they have em in the party.

She was a FG councilor and Party Member.

McMurphy

Shemale wrote: »

Some lineup Fr Fintan Stack, Fr Dougal Maguire and Quagmire.

:pac:

Snow Garden

The Indo is going after the Madigan lie on front page tomorrow. Madigan will have to come clean.

Snow Garden

The FG TD on the Tonight show is absolutely floundering. Car crash stuff again.

FF and SF are suggesting the Gardai should be brought in now for the fraudulent claim.

This could bring down the government yet. Fascinating TV!

ChikiChiki

"Swing Case TD got Ministers Advice on Claim" - Headline in tomorrows Indo.

Lisa Chambers (FF) who has a legal background stating there is certainly a legal question and implying the Gardai should get involved.

Daily Mail editor says trying to bury the news today has added an extra layer to the scandal.

Patrick O'Donovan (FG) downplaying it as if it is nothing. Trying to garner sympathy mentioning her bereavement multiple times along with social media abuse.

McMurphy

lola85 wrote: »

FF and people been brought to justice for fraud:)

Excuse me for been cynical:)

I know - it's like the Taoiseach of the state, not only running a campaign for members of the public to snitch on scammers, but also having a scamming, ambulance chasing minister within his own cabinet initiating personal insurance claims for a fellow td (thick as thieves, literally) yet turning a blind eye to both.

There's gonna be no but what about to this one horse.

ChikiChiki

lola85 wrote: »

FF and people been brought to justice for fraud:)

Excuse me for been cynical:)

Understandable to be cynical about FF preaching accountability (as am I) but FG are making them look more ethical and Leo does not even realise it.:o

Grassroots must be close to pressing the red button.

boombang

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/maria-bailey-removed-as-committee-chair-over-compensation-claim-1.3965091?mode=amp

Don't know if anybody else has mentioned this already, but the linked article states:

"Ms Bailey has already been chosen as a Fine Gael candidate at the next general election."

I think that's going to help make up the mind of many voters who might have still been on the fence.

Bunny Colvin

boombang wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/maria-bailey-removed-as-committee-chair-over-compensation-claim-1.3965091?mode=amp

Don't know if anybody else has mentioned this already, but the linked article states:

"Ms Bailey has already been chosen as a Fine Gael candidate at the next general election."

I think that's going to help make up the mind of many voters who might have still been on the fence.

Is there any chance she could be elected after this? **** this country if she gets anywhere near it.

tayto lover

Bunny Colvin wrote: »

Is there any chance she could be elected after this? **** this country if she gets anywhere near it.

Of course there is.
Think Lowry, Mc Ilvanney and I’m sure there’s others.

Shefwedfan

Bunny Colvin wrote: »

Is there any chance she could be elected after this? **** this country if she gets anywhere near it.

One paper stopped people in her area

You would expect in that area to be highly educated but sadly not...a lot of she learned her lesson blah blah blah....and this was before she got any reprimand for Leo

tototoe

This story just keeps on giving. A story leo and FG tried to bury in the midst of Boris and Lowry..

Yet it's top story on breakfast radio, on the front page of most papers...and both bailey and varadkar still trending on twitter this morning.

Love it.

Chiparus

tayto lover wrote: »

Of course there is.
Think Lowry, Mc Ilvanney and I’m sure there’s others.

Bertie, Charlie Mihall ..........

Shefwedfan

tototoe wrote: »

This story just keeps on giving. A story leo and FG tried to bury in the midst of Boris and Lowry..

Yet it's top story on breakfast radio, on the front page of most papers...and both bailey and varadkar still trending on twitter this morning.

Love it.

Whoever is their media person and the couple of lackies on here, really they haven’t a f**king clue

Shows how disconnected Leo is, he still think he can spin a line, wear an expensive jacket and it will all ok.....

You got away with it for a while Leo, now people expect a leader, your not it so move on and let’s see what else is around

Brexit is no excuse not to have general election, Boris is going to make a complete balls of that on his own

Auguste Comte

is_that_so wrote: »

There won't be any as the case was dropped.

I think they might have something to say about the legal costs they faced and are currently trying to recover.