Page "Mary Robinson" Paragraph 28

In a pointless effort to weaken Robinson a government minister and Haughey ally, Pádraig Flynn launched a controversial personal attack on Mary Robinson " as a wife and mother " and " having a new-found interest in her family ".

Flynn, even more controversially, also joked privately that Robinson would " turn the Áras into the Red Cow Inn ".

Flynn's tirade was itself attacked in response as " disgraceful " on live radio by Michael McDowell, a senior member of the Progressive Democrats, then in coalition with Fianna Fáil and up to that point supporting Lenihan's campaign.

When Robinson met McDowell later in a restaurant, she quipped, " with enemies like McDowell | archivedate = 15 February 2008