Page "Alan Dukes" Paragraph 18

Initially, Fianna Fáil's Brian Lenihan had been favourite to win, however after a number of controversies arising from the brief Fianna Fáil administration of 1981 – 82, and Lenihan's dismissal as Minister for Defence mid-way through the campaign, the Labour Party's Mary Robinson emerged victorious.

To many in Fine Gael, the humiliation of finishing third was too much to bear and a heave was launched against Dukes.

He was subsequently replaced as party leader by John Bruton.