'As far as I'm concerned they're all at it'

Michael Lowry’s son has been taking supportive phone calls in Thurles, Co Tipperary, writes BARRY ROCHE

Michael Lowry's son has been taking supportive phone calls in Thurles, Co Tipperary, writes BARRY ROCHE

ON A balmy spring evening, Liberty Square in Thurles in the heart of the Tipperary North constituency seems far removed from the cataclysmic events of the Moriarty tribunal report.

Michael Lowry’s son, Micheál, a councillor on North Tipperary County Council, has just taken another phone call from a supportive constituent and sums up what he believes is the mood of people in the county.

“The only negativity seems to be coming from outside the county and that’s been the case over the last few years and it’s based on people’s perception rather than fact. Everybody I’ve spoken to today has been very supportive,” he said.

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Mr Lowry said he was not surprised his father topped the poll in the general election with more than 14,000 votes, as his father is part of what they called the Lowry team: a TD, four county councillors and three town councillors who he says deliver on their promises.

“It’s one of the accusations that’s always levelled at him at national level, that he focuses on local issue and people always cast this type of gombeen aspersion on him. But the reason he gets so much work done at a local level is because he has a team working on the ground.”

He said his father had always been honest with his constituents over what was happening in the tribunals. “There was nothing contained in that report that we didn’t tell the people of North Tipperary – we have never hidden the fact that there was a tribunal going on or that we felt there would be a negative outcome. So from that point of view, it’s old news to people here.”

Among the few people willing to speak on the matter when approached by The Irish Timesin Liberty Square was Catherine Ryan from Drombane, who said Michael Lowry was a hard worker who had done a lot for the local area.

“In fairness he does a lot for the area but it seems pretty black and white and he seems to have helped out these people when he shouldn’t have, but as far as I’m concerned they’re all at it, and some get caught and some don’t,” she said.

Local architect Hugh Ryan and publican Kevin Coppinger had nothing but praise for Mr Lowry. Only for him, they said, Thurles would have no voice. Neither believed the controversy over the Moriarty report would cost him votes in the next election.

“What makes me laugh,” said Mr Ryan “ is when people say that electing him is a real two fingers to Dublin – as if Dublin enters your mind when you’re voting.

“He’s got a huge vote but I really think it’s the man who works the hardest who gets elected.”

However, Thurles native Annette Russell was less than impressed with Mr Lowry’s behaviour as described by the report, though she wondered what the point was of having such a costly inquiry to establish wrongdoing if no one was to face charges.

“I’m not surprised at the report but I just think the cost of the tribunal is criminal.

“It’s taken 14 years to come up with some sort of piece of paper and even at that, there’s no criminal proceedings and it’s the taxpayer who ends up paying for it. ­It makes me angry.”

Shane McGovern, who is unemployed and from Two-Mile-Borris, praised Mr Lowry. “I rate him highly ­ I think he’s a genuine man and I think he’s trying to do good for around here especially for Two-Mile-Borris, with his support for the casino.”

Pensioner Jimmy Dooley described himself as “a Fianna Fáil man” but said he had voted for Mr Lowry last time out.

“I had one falling out with him ever but he’s all right. ­ He always salutes me, ” he said.

However, one woman who didn’t wish to be named cautioned that people might not always say what they really feel, particularly in Mr Lowry’s stronghold of Thurles, and she instanced feelings at her own workplace in the town.

“I’d say the impressions you get on the street would be very different from what people are saying in the workplace.

“People are angry and very keen that it will go to the DPP, and privately that is what they’re saying. But I don’t expect you’ll find many saying that publicly.”