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FactCheck: Did Enda Kenny really call Michael Lowry 'a man of the highest integrity'?

TheJournal.ie’s GE16 FactCheck tests a claim about the Taoiseach’s erstwhile stance towards the Tipperary TD.

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AS PART OF our GE16 FactCheck series, we’re testing the truth of claims made by candidates and parties on the campaign trail.

If you hear something that doesn’t sound quite right, or see a claim that looks great, but you want to confirm it, email factcheck@thejournal.ie.

For this instalment, we’ve tested an interesting claim made during an intense TV debate earlier this week.

Claim: Enda Kenny once called Michael Lowry “a man of the highest integrity and honour” – Shane Ross
Verdict: TRUE

Irish political upheaval PA WIRE PA WIRE

What was said:

During a discussion on Wednesday’s RTE’s Prime Time about the Taoiseach’s refusal to rule out accepting or seeking the support of Michael Lowry in forming a government, Ross challenged Fitzgerald:

Does [Fitzgerald] stand behind Enda Kenny’s statement in the Dáil, in 1997, after Mr Lowry resigned, that he was “a man of the highest integrity and honour”?

Fitzgerald did not answer that particular question.

On Friday, the Taoiseach definitively ruled out accepting Lowry’s support in forming a government, saying “I will not have any dealings with Michael Lowry, or any other independent.”

The facts:

Kenny spoke during a 3 December 1996 Dáil debate (not 1997, as stated by Ross), on the nomination of Alan Dukes as Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications.

This was following the resignation of Lowry amid scandal over the awarding of the first mobile phone license to Denis O’Brien’s ESAT Digiphone.

Kenny, then Minister for Tourism, stated:

endakennylowryintegrity Excerpts from Dáil statements made by Enda Kenny on 3 December 1996. Oireachtas.ie Oireachtas.ie

You can read Kenny’s full contribution, and the entire debate, here.

On the same programme, Shane Ross was himself the subject of a very specific claim, which he disputed.

Claim: Shane Ross tweeted ‘Viva Syriza’ a few months ago – Frances Fitzgerald
Verdict: TRUE, but gets one detail wrong.

During Prime Time on Wednesday night, Fitzgerald told the Independent TD:

On the other hand, Shane, you did tweet ‘Viva Syriza’ just a few months ago, and you were a cheerleader for the sort of economic policies that we saw.

Ross responded, “That’s complete nonsense, the minister is wrong about part of that.”

The facts:

Shane Ross did indeed tweet “Viva Siriza”, and “Go Syriza” on two occasions in the week before Greek elections in January 2015 (not “a few months ago”, as claimed by Fitzgerald.”)

In the first instance, he criticised IMF managing director Christine Lagarde for comments she made during a trip to Dublin:

And in the second instance, he stated that an election win for Syriza would be “good for Ireland but bad for Enda.”

He was promoting his Sunday Independent column the next day, the date of the Greek legislative elections, in which he wrote:

Enda must be praying that a miracle saves him…If Syriza wins, it may spell trouble for Europe – but it could herald a domestic crisis for Enda…
If a “red cent” of Greek debt is written off by Greece’s European creditors, Enda will look like a patsy. Greece will have succeeded where Ireland failed.

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    Mute John K
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    Aug 7th 2024, 9:08 AM

    Great decision from Kellie, too many boxers go on fighting long after they should have retired

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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Aug 7th 2024, 9:13 AM

    @John K: Exactly. Go while on top, Kellie.

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    Mute Colette Byrne
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    Aug 7th 2024, 10:13 AM

    She is truly an inspiration, and a great role model for boxing.
    And the inner city, mc gregor could take a leaf out of her book. Be humble.

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    Mute deadslys
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    Aug 7th 2024, 12:15 PM

    @Andrew Clavin: Bet you’re fun at parties…

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    Mute Golf Ball
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    Aug 7th 2024, 2:50 PM

    @Colette Byrne: McGregor is a global superstar, Harrington is an amateur in women’s boxing, which very few people are interested in

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    Mute Tom L
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    Aug 7th 2024, 3:03 PM

    @Golf Ball: McGregor turned into a roided up jackass when he stopped being a fighter c.2017. The Alverez fight was the last time anyone seen the real McGregor. Global superstar lol not even close, washed up superstar is more apt

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    Mute Golf Ball
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    Aug 7th 2024, 3:07 PM

    @Tom L: huge comeback about to happen

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    Mute Seanie
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    Aug 7th 2024, 3:39 PM

    @Golf Ball: Conor Mctapout

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    Mute Dominic Leleu
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    Aug 7th 2024, 9:18 AM

    Zidane stopped after victory for the same reasons. She has nothing to prove to anyone. Fantastic fight.

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    Mute John K
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    Aug 7th 2024, 9:34 AM

    @Dominic Leleu: Zidane might have suffered more head injury in his last fight

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    Mute Mick Duvanny
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    Aug 7th 2024, 10:30 AM

    @Dominic Leleu: ??? He lost his last game in the WC final and was sent off. He had already decided to retire well before the game

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    Mute John K
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    Aug 7th 2024, 10:35 AM

    @Mick Duvanny: it’s a joke…Zidane won his last fight, headbutting matterazi.

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Aug 7th 2024, 9:04 AM

    Kellie is our golden girl!

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    Mute Sean Sean
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    Aug 7th 2024, 10:21 AM

    Time to name Diamond Park, Páirc Kellie Harrington. Comhghairdeas ó chroí.

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    Mute Lulu
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    Aug 7th 2024, 10:54 AM

    @Sean Sean: Don’t be ridiculous.

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Aug 7th 2024, 11:32 AM

    @Sean Sean: they should rename croke Park to kellie park

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    Mute Leonard Barry
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    Aug 7th 2024, 12:15 PM

    @Sean Money: Perhaps they should also rename the Aviva Stadium to her name and as we’re at it have an annual public holiday to honour her, would be no harm either to rename Dublin Airport the Kellie Harrington Airport, won’t be long now before someone will be calling for her to be president of the state.

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Aug 7th 2024, 1:07 PM

    @Leonard Barry: a bit much perhaps. Croke Park is in her area so makes sense to change the name to honour her.

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    Mute Golf Ball
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    Aug 7th 2024, 1:36 PM

    @Sean Sean: name a public toilet after her and leave it at that

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Aug 7th 2024, 1:59 PM

    @Golf Ball: poor kellie would be shitted on

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    Mute Máire K
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    Aug 7th 2024, 1:18 PM

    Take time off Kellie & be with your family. You have done it all, retire now and spend your time promoting the sport you love and know you are a champion in every Irish heart.

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    Mute Golf Ball
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    Aug 7th 2024, 11:16 AM

    Chinese boxer was robbed of the gold medal

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    Mute James T.Kirk
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    Aug 7th 2024, 11:21 AM

    @Golf Ball: Nonsense.

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    Mute donal O'brien
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    Aug 7th 2024, 11:53 AM

    @James T.Kirk: the dipschits ate out in force. Sad

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    Mute furry01
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    Aug 7th 2024, 12:47 PM

    @Golf Ball: Probably robbed of the silver anyway, with all those Dubs around in the stadium

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    Mute Tezmond McVicar
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    Aug 7th 2024, 1:47 PM

    @Golf Ball: Poor attempt at trolling there. Must do better.

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    Mute John Smith
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    Aug 7th 2024, 11:59 PM

    Well done Kellie, you done yourself, your family and your country so proud.

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