SwingGate continues to present both a headache and embarrassment for the Taoiseach and Fine Gael while TD Maria Bailey’s now abandoned compensation claim continues to be a gift to the Blue Shirt’s political opponents, meme artists and those just looking to get a laugh.
Leo Varadkar has admitted that the TD representing Dun Laoghaire has caused his party “reputational damage” with her claim stemming from a 2015 accident in which she fell from a swing hanging in a restaurant in Dean Hotel on Harcourt Street in Dublin.
On Saturday after public outcry and criticism from those within her own party over what many have dubbed a “frivolous” claim the TD dropped her case despite the fact she did have medical bills stemming from injuries sustained from the fall.
The claim led to a difficult time for other Fine Gael European Parliament candidates including Mairead McGuinness who faced hard questions from citizens relating to rising insurance costs who made reference to Bailey’s claim.
Now thousands of people have signed a petition calling for the resignation of Maria Bailey from the Dail.
Still others have taken up Bailey’s assertion that the swing should have been supervised and suggested that Fine Gael TD’s not be allowed to out in public unaccompanied by a responsible adult.
Bailey’s Monty Python-eques interview with RTE’s Sean O’Rourke has only added to the surrealness of this bizarre and at times hilarious controversy.
However, in keeping with Fine Gael tradition it is unlikely the esteemed TD from Dun Laoghaire will let the opinion of the plebs affect her to severely.
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