Seven times presidential races caused disaster

ALAN DUKES: Brought down by disastrous Austin Currie run in 1990. CHARLIE HAUGHEY: His 1990 betrayal of Brian Lenihan Sr shortened his career. ALBERT REYNOLDS: Peacemaker and party leader, snubbed by his own in favour of Mary McAleese for the 1997 nomination, DICK SPRING: Leadership ended by disastrous 1997 Roche campaign.

ADI ROCHE: Went from front runner to trailing the field – destroyed by an ineffectual campaign.

DAVID NORRIS: Ireland’s most loved gay icon saw his 2011 campaign enveloped by allegations from which he just couldn’t recover.

GAY MITCHELL: The man who previously never lost an election trailed in with 7% in the 2011 campaign. Twas the end for his career.