Wigmore - Albert Reynolds, Election 1982

ALL PARTIES had candidates who canvassed personally in the election. But the worst such example we have come across concerns one Albert Reynolds, the Fianna Fail candidate for Longford-Westmeath. Mr. Reynolds had inserted in both The Longford Leader and The Longford News, which he once owned, a special election supplement, which appeared as though it was merely an editorial addendum to the usual coverage of the election. In the 8-page supplement there were 25 photographs of Albert. Page 1 trumpeted "Reynolds Ready for Return to Government".

Page 2 contained the headlines "Important National Task For Albert", "Albert Turned Many a Sod for Longford Industry", "Albert's 11 th Hour Action Saved Ballymahon's Major Industry". Page 3 has "A Proud Moment for Albert - An Important Moment for Co. Longford" and the advice "Give Reynolds 1 For a Job Well Done". Pages 4 and 5 are a splash of photographs with a massive star in the middle enscribed: "Albert: Working for the People - With the People" and at the bottom: "For Continued Progress: Vote I Reynolds". Page 6 contains an article headed: "An Election is a Family Affair in the Reynolds' Household", along with a report on the success of Albert's facctory entitled "The C & D Success Story". Page 7 advises the electorate of Longford to Vote 1 Reynolds and 2, 3 Keegan and O'Rourke in order of your choice".

The back page contains a personal message from Albert and a further innjunction to "Vote 1 Reynolds". In tiny type at the bottom of the last page is the revelation that the suppleement had been supplied by the candiidate. The NUJ is in dispute with the management of the Longford Leader over the matter.

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AT THE final Government press connference of the campaign there was allmost a re-run of the hilarious press conference on the National Developpment Corporation. Towards the end of the pre-poll conference the Magill photographer, Derek Speirs, started to photograph David Gratton. the ecoonomic advisor to the Tanaiste, Michael O'Leary, who was seated beside O'Leary on the very partisan and poliitical platform.

Immediately, O'Leary and Grafton realised that there was trouble ahead and exchanged frantic whispered commments. A question was then put to the Taoiseach about the propriety of a public servant taking part in a political campaign and sitting on a political platform. Immediately, Graffton cut across the Taoiseach and said he would answer the question, denying that he was a public servant. Asked if his salary was paid for by the State he said it was. O'Leary then intervened and said his salary was not paid for by the State and that Grafton had resigned from the civil service. Later, Grafton agreed that he was indeed still being paid by the State, although he had forrmally resigned from the Department of Finance three weeks previously he confirmed he was still economic addviser to the Minister for Industry and Energy. Asked which version was true, O'Leary's or his, with regard to who was paying his wages, Grafton said he was right. O'Leary then intervened and said it depended on what one meant by whether the State was paying his wages. Eventually, O'Leary agreed that, the State (i.e. the taxpayer) was inndeed paying the wages of this man who was openly engaged, not on the business of the public service, but in partisan political campaigning.

It was almost Fawlty Towers all over again. The entourage then left the press conference and O'Leary, Grafton and another of O'Leary's personal aides, Yvonne Murphy, wandered around the street in Mespil Road wonndering where was the State car to take them to wherever they were going.

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THE WRETCHED Tom McGurk managed to make a fool of himself throughout the campaign, not just beecause of the imbecilic profile he wrote of Charles Haughey (incidentally the only coherent parts of that profile were taken word for word from The Magill Book of Irish Politics and, naturally, there was no attribution) but also because of idiot questions he asked at various press conferences. What he was doing at these is quite a different matter as, happily, the man isn't allowed to write about politics. McGurk was given a little of his comeeuppance recently when The Sunday Tribune was obliged to pay £1,500 to Gordon Thomas  for breach of contract and a further £2,100 in legal costs. Now McGurk is being personally sued by Thomas for defamation. How long will it take the Sunday Tribune to rid itself of this pestilence? - remem ber it took RTE several years of patient calculation to successfully give him the heave-ho.

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WE OWE an apology to John Feeney of The Evening Herald. For some time we have described him - accurately Pas The Worst Journalist in The World. We were not to know that there had been method behind his madness. Last week the entire truth was revealed:

Feeney was the man who brought down Hibernia, having instigated the Fr. Egan story. He then transferred 'his attentions to Magill where, during a few months of association, he almost brought down this publication - there were four libel suits arising out of a single story he wrote on the security business. Fortunately tor us, he then set his sights on a large target, Inndependent Newspapers. The stream of lies, inaccuracies, distortions and falsiifications for which he has been responsible in the last few years are all part of a calculated plot, it has emerged.

Obviously, the plot is to bring the O'Reilly newspaper empire crashing down. Therefore, although Feeney justtly merits the title The Worst Journallist in The World, it is only fair to point out that this is precisely what he wants to be. You're doing a great job, John. Keep it up.

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THE INTREPID reporters of The Sunnday World, Sammy Smyth and Cathal O'Shea, were in conclave in their office with their mentor, chortling over the success of the Deighan case. Mr. O'Shea was called to the reception area where he was accosted by a strannger, asked if his name was Cathal O'Shea and then handed a writ for another libel action.

• REGRETTABLY, it is not possible for us to give the full background to The Sunday World libel sex case - there are such things as strategic nuclear deterrents. Suffice it to say that the Deerpark Hotel is a peculiar place for casual meetings of reporters, as indeed are the Belvedere Hotel and Buswells Hotel.

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WHO WON the television debate? Charlie Haughey? Wrong. Garret FitzzGerald? Wrong. Paddy Cole won the television debate.