Hugh O'Connell: 'FG appears to exceed all others when it comes to self-harm'

It is rather idiotic of a party approaching a leadership contest to be carrying on like this

Time and space? Pic: RollingNews.ie

In 2001, fearing an electoral meltdown, Fine Gael deposed John Bruton as leader and replaced him with Michael Noonan. The following year the party lost nearly two dozen seats - an unmitigated disaster.

The scars linger. The messiness with which Bruton was dispatched was mentioned privately by one current leadership contender in conversation with me last Friday as a reason to ensure the transition in Fine Gael now firmly under way does not ...