The attack on ombudsman Fiona Crean lasted nearly five hours as council debated her biting rebuke of the civic appointments process — which among other things accused the mayor’s office of interfering — yet when the voting bells rang, her recommendations were approved unanimously.

Council voted 38-0 in favour of Crean’s recommendations, which included better resources for city staff, a more structured chain of command for policy implementation, and a better system to report applicant conflicts of interest, both perceived and real.

Despite the rosy outcome, the council debate was one of the most dramatic of Mayor Rob Ford’s term, with screaming accusations of wrongdoing directed at the right, left and Crean herself.

Councillors Janet Davis and Shelley Carroll both teared up, and Councillor Mike Del Grande gave a speech that his colleagues were fighting like “alley cats.” He then walked off the floor, refusing to participate any longer.

Last week, Crean released a scathing report that found Ford’s office inappropriately interfered with the process that selects civilians for 120 city boards and agencies. One of the most damaging pieces of evidence included the alleged existence of a list of preferred candidates distributed by the mayor’s office.

Crean could never find a physical copy and subsequently said she could not confirm its existence. But the suggestion infuriated members of Ford’s inner circle.

Councillor Doug Ford charged much of Crean’s evidence was “hearsay.” One of his major concerns was that she did not include the names of those she interviewed, which is standard practice in any ombudsman’s report.

Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti accused Crean of having “political motivations.”

Councillor and speaker Frances Nunziata alleged Crean purposefully did not include comments from right-wingers in her report and that members of the left had put her up to the investigation.

Councillor Michelle Berardinetti questioned Crean’s objectivity, inquiring why she had posted media coverage of her report on the website, which portrayed the mayor unfavourably.

The tiny-framed Crean stood calmly at the podium throughout, sidestepping attempts to draw her into a direct fight. Over and over, she said her evidence was absolutely not hearsay and everyone interviewed did so under oath. Each had direct, first-hand knowledge, she said.

Speaking afterwards, Crean brushed off the accusations.

“I’m simply doing my job and investigating accusations of maladministration and wrongdoing. It has absolutely nothing to do with political stripes,” she said.

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In an impassioned speech, left-wing councillor Joe Mihevc praised Crean’s bravery.

“It would have been very easy for her to duck. . . . She could have ducked like many folks around here do,” he said. “The lesson for me here is: bravery is going to get you a few shots in the head. . . . This issue speaks to the illness that is prevalent in this place.”