03/02/2011

Frosty Reception For Electioneers

Ireland's parties are finding the electioneering trail a cold and hostile place, as two of the party leaders are heckled at the beginning of their campaign.

Fine Gael's Enda Kenny was the latest to join a list of leaders who have been heckled on the election trail in the past few days. During a visit to Dundalk last night, a woman upset at a house she had purchased in Mayo and wanted the Council to buy off her, verbally attacked Mr Kenny saying she had previously asked him to help her and shouting "you broke your promise".

Shortly beforehand, Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin was heckled by a protestor while walking around the streets of Galway city on Wednesday.

It comes on the first day of his campaign tour as canvassing for general election votes got underway this week. According to reports this morning, local man Tom Houlihan shouted at the new party leader as he was in the Spanish Arch area of the city. The unidentified man said his son's wages had been cut and he was in danger of losing his house and accused Fianna Fail of destroying the country.

(DW)

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