A SPY in Fianna Fail? Surely not. Journalist Stephen Collins, in his new book The Cosgrave Legacy, writes that during the election campaign of February 1973, the coalition parties had one secret weapon which is still a matter of great sensitivity. "They had a spy at a very senior level in Fianna Fail who gave them information about the Government's strategy during the campaign. Brendan Halligan confirmed in 1996 that Labour and Fine Gael benefitted from inside information in February 1973, but he refused to disclose the identity of the mole. He did confirm that the coalition parties knew in advance of major Fianna Fail announcements and were in a position to take counter measures. The Fianna Fail volte-face on rates was one key issue on which the coalition parties were forewarned and in a position to react calmly.
Quidnunc is anxious to discover who this mole was, although she may not pass on the information as she doesn't want to be next in the High Court.