Taking the Mick

MEP Mick Wallace has been accused of giving ‘the two fingers’ to voters in his constituency following a post on social media this week in which he was pictured lounging bare-chested on a balcony with an al fresco drink.

The former TD for Wexford posted the image on Facebook this week, with the caption: ‘Heard there’s a debate tonight with some of the Wexford byelection candidates. Good luck with that.’

It was accompanied with an emoji of two clinking beer glasses.

However, others were certainly not toasting the post from the 64year-old, who is renowned for his collection of pink T-shirts. They accused Mr Wallace of ‘taking the Mick’.

Karin Dubsky, the Green Party candidate in the forthcoming Wexford by-election, told the Irish Mail on Sunday last night that voters should reciprocate his ‘two-fingered salute’.

Ms Dubsky said: ‘Well Mick, good luck is very welcome, even better if you put your raincoat on and come to vote. Number one is my lucky number. I think he always wants to do something controversial…’

She said she hitched a lift so she could take part in the debate among candidates standing in the by-election to fill the Dáil seat vacated by Mr Wallace.

She said: ‘I was contacted at 7.30pm when Verona [Murphy] pulled out [of the debate]. I even hitched a lift with Malcolm Byrne because it was too late for the bus. I’d say it [the picture] was meant to be a two-finger salute...’

One person responded to his post online with the riposte: ‘This should bring down property prices in that quarter of Brussels.’

Many have asked who, with the artful eye, took the photo? Mr Wallace was contacted for comment.