THE Fianna Fail bail referendum campaign director, Mr John O'Donoghue, has described the Labour [Party as "like Mother Machree's old dog" in the attitude of its members to the referendum. "They will go halfway down the road with any passer by," he said, and referred to "influential members" of the party who had decided "to launch a campaign of guerrilla warfare against the bail referendum".
Last week the Labour Party Lawyers Group, opposing the referendum, described the proposed constitutional change as "populist," and one which could result in "vulnerable people" making statements that were not true.
Mr O'Donoghue said the group's statement "betrays the true extent of the malaise in the Labour Party over the issue". He suggested that "as a Labour lawyer himself it would not be asking too much of the Tanaiste to exert the same degree of influence over his former colleagues and fellow party members "as he does over the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice".
As an alternative, Mr O'Donoghue suggested, Mr Spring might ask Mr Fergus Finlay "to tell them the [high moral ground is no place to be when people fear for their bodies and their property".
Calling for a Yes vote, Mr O'Donoghue criticised the Government parties "lacklustre" and "halfhearted" campaigns. Many people in the country did not know a referendum was taking place, he said.