“What Maria Bailey did was wrong and I think that’s the reality for her.”
Louth TD Fergus O’Dowd has said that Maria Bailey should not stand for the party in the next general election and that the party has been damaged following the fallout from her swing case.
Bailey filed and then withdrew a claim against the Dean Hotel after falling off the signature swings outside Sophie’s Bar.
It later emerged that Bailey had run a 10km just weeks after the fall despite claims the injuries left her unable to do so.
In an interview with Sean O’Rourke, Bailey also declined to answer whether or not she had been holding items in both hands when she fell off the swing.
Last week, the Taoiseach said that he would not remove the party whip from Bailey or remove her as an election candidate based on the report, as she has already “endured considerable negative publicity”.
Bailey was removed from her role as Chair of the Oireachtas Housing Committee, a position that’s worth €9,500 a year to the Dún Laoghaire TD.
Speaking on LMFM, Deputy O’Dowd gave an indication about how he feels about the situation that has been dubbed “swing gate.”
“People are deeply concerned. What Maria Bailey did was wrong and I think that’s the reality for her,” said O’Dowd.
“There are indications certainly in the press that her own party in Dún Laoghaire are saying that she shouldn’t stand and they want her removed.”
When asked about his own personal feelings on the matter, the TD for Louth said the following:
“Would I prefer that she didn’t? Yes of course, but I can’t influence that.
“But having said that, the badge that she wears is not one that I’m happy with.”
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