Callers to RTE Radio 1's Today with Pat Kenny have suggested that the campaign against the presidential hopes of Ms Adi Roche may yet backfire. Contributors to yesterday's show told Kenny that the recent criticism heaped on Ms Roche by disenchanted employees and other sources had convinced them to vote for the Chernobyl activist.
An indignant Dick Spring got the ball rolling on Morning Ireland when he said a new low was being witnessed in Irish media and politics. Responding to reports in some newspapers, but not The Irish Times, that Ms Roche's brother was obliged to resign from the Army in 1969 because of his alleged republican sympathies, the Labour Party leader said it seemed Ms Roche was being held accountable for something concerning her brother which happened when she was 14.
Anonymous phone calls were being made to news agencies around the State criticising her, he said. TDs were being sent lists of names and phone numbers of people who would provide negative stories about Ms Roche.
He concluded that an orchestrated dirty-tricks campaign against the Labour nominee was being carried out "by the back door". So who was behind this campaign, he was asked. "I wish I knew," said Mr Spring.
On Radio Ireland's Daybreak, Ruairi Quinn TD, Ms Roche's campaign director, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said the motivation of those who criticised her had to be questioned. He said their scheme may have backfired on the anti-Roche campaigners as her supporters had been "galvanised into action" by the recent days controversy. "It has shown that she is not the plaster saint many have portrayed her to be."
This was borne out by the numbers of calls of support for Ms Roche to the Pat Kenny show. The criticism was all "spite and parish-pump politics", said one caller, who declared his intention of voting for Ms Roche.
Another supporter said he was a lifelong friend of Ms Roche's brother, Mr Donal de Roiste. He explained the background of Mr de Roiste's departure from the Army under a Presidential Order 30 years ago.
"Donal has constantly claimed over the years that the Army at that time refused to give him a court martial and to this day they apparently have never given him a reason for his dismissal," he said. Mr de Roiste had striven over the years to clear his name, he said.
The broadcaster then read a statement from Ms Roche in which she said that, while she enjoyed a close relationship with her brother, no one could expect favoured treatment if her presidential bid was a success.
"I don't propose to dignify the spurious attempts to draw in members of my family and incidents from my childhood with any further comment," she concluded.
The deputy leader of Democratic Left, Mr Pat Rabbitte, sounded weary when discussing the controversy on Radio Ireland. The whole affair had "taken on sinister overtones" and contained "venom" which was "a bit repulsive even to professional politicians who are used to cutting it rough".
With talk of the release of a tape which features Ms Roche giving a dressing down to one of her former employees, things may become rougher.