Pressure on Varadkar to sort out Noone bullying feud
PRESSURE is growing on the Taoiseach to intervene to end the increasingly embarrassing row over allegations by Catherine Noone of sexist and bullying behaviour against another Fine Gael senator.
Senior Fine Gael officials said Senator Noone was willing to withdraw her formal complaint against a male colleague earlier this week as part of a ‘peace agreement’.
However, when details of this agreement were leaked to the media – by an individual involved in the talks – Ms Noone became upset and withdrew from the pact.
After a brief investigation, the party hierarchy believed by late Wednesday that the matter had been resolved.
But talks collapsed when, according to a source, ‘one jackass started talking, claiming premature victory and then the other one bolted’.
The infuriated senior party source told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘This is turning into a case of “send in the clowns”.’
‘The intention was to have this done and dusted on Wednesday,’ added a source. ‘Then the weather hit and it didn’t happen. That’s what caused yer man to come out and start briefing on Thursday morning.’
Another source said Ms Noone risks being ‘pilloried’ for first making such a serious complaint, then agreeing to withdraw it and then backing out of that agreement.
‘This is essentially a squabble about a squabble,’ said a senior party figure. ‘But this sexism stuff is lethal – we are all terrified.’
The ongoing dispute is being mediated by Fine Gael general secretary Tom Curran and at least one outside consultant but pressure is growing on the Taoiseach to intervene.
‘Leo must sort this out. He needs to exert authority and end the “send in the clowns” duet, and tell them both their heads are on the block,’ a source told the MoS.
‘Leo dealing with humans can be a bit like Bambi On Ice,’ another source said. ‘He is not designed for women dabbing tears from their eyes. But a leader must control his party – the marketeers are in charge rather than him,’ they said. Intriguingly, support seems to be leaking away from both warring senators, with one woman TD saying of Ms Noone: ‘Catherine is right. Sexism and misogyny are rife in Leinster House but you have to pick your battles. This a squabble between political rivals – a pair of unknown senators who don’t like each other. Trying to bring sexism into this damages our cause as feminists.’
Another source said: ‘The sisterhood is not exactly leaping out to defend her – that says something. Originally there was a lot of sympathy in the party, but it is eroding fast. We must be careful not to play politics with this issue. What on earth was she doing raising this in a parliamentary party meeting where it was bound to be leaked?’
The party still hopes that a resolution can be secured by early next week.
One figure said: ‘We are nearly there – all it will take is a small, meaningless apology and we are done.’
Ms Noone did not respond to calls or messages this week, while the accused senator said: ‘Jaysus, I can’t talk to you; it’s a f***ing disaster. I’ve no comment. I know nothing.’
‘Taoiseach must take control of his party’ ‘FG sympathy for her is eroding fast’