By Anthony Sheridan

Establishment journalist Michael Clifford was full of admiration for (recently arrested) Olympic Council of Ireland President Pat Hickey in this morning’s edition of the Irish Examiner.

In common with most mainstream journalists Clifford seems more interested in slagging off the Minister for Sports Shane Ross rather than actually addressing very serious allegations of corruption.

The following comments by Clifford give us a good insight into the mindset of mainstream media to allegations of corruption.

On Minister Ross’s attempt to get answers from Hickey:

Mr Ross discovered, as many before him had, that Mr Hickey is a wily old dog who can bite as well as others might bark.

On Hickey’s refusal to cooperate with Ross:

Take a hike, minister, this is my baby, the long-standing OCI president conveyed.

On Hickey’s patronising dinner invite to Ross

Say what you like about Pat Hickey, but you gotta love his chutzpah.

On Ross’s intention to seek the advice of the Attorney General.

You can imagine the sheer delight Marie Whelan would enjoy if told that Shane Ross was on the line. Just a few short weeks ago, Miss Whelan was subjected to acute embarrassment at the cabinet table when Mr Ross rejected her advice on the abortion issue as “just an opinion”. Now the same minister plans to run to her seeking some form of advice that might save his ego from abrupt deflation.

On Ross’s poor handling of the scandal:

Perhaps Mr Ross should take up the invitation to dine with Pat Hickey. The latter would undoubtedly be able to tell the politician a thing or two about politics.

The question Irish citizens have for establishment journalists like Clifford is:

When are you going to address the rampant political corruption that has destroyed our country?

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Michael Clifford