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While the winds of change continue to blow furiously across the Arab world, outgoing Cork TD Ned O’Keeffe has warned that Ireland might be next.

Mr O’Keeffe (whose son Kevin is standing for Fianna Fáil in the Cork East constituency) has warned of the very real possibility of a military coup.

According to a report published in today’s Evening Echo, Mr O’Keeffe said “The situation has become so bad that an Army coup is a real possibility.”

Blaming Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan for hastening the possibility of a military takeover, Mr O’Keeffe issued the following warning:

“Our political system is going to fail further. The two Brians have made a right mess of the country and I see the real possibility of an Army coup.

“People thought I was mad with all the things I have predicted through the years, but I foresaw the economy collapsing due to lax regulation on building housing estates and unwanted shopping centres.”

Harking back to another era and the reign of Charles J Haughey, Mr O'Keeffe said:

“So what if Charlie liked nice women and a few extra nice shirts? He was the best leader we ever had.”