PJ Mara : Spinster Extraordinaire

[the-analyst2007]

Just browsing through the Second Interim Report from the Flood (now Mahon) Tribunal (as you do) and I came across this gem regarding PJ Mara.

"During the course of his employment as (FF) Press Secretary, his (PJ Mara's) financial renumeration was not sufficient to meet his immediate financial requirements, he experienced financial difficulties (sound familiar!!).

He said he received assistance from his friends, Mr Oliver Barry and Mr Dermot Desmond, in the form of loans. There was no formal structure to these loans. There was no interest charge, nor was there any fixed schedule for repayment. Those making the loans did not intend that the sums advanced would be treated as gifts by Mr Mara (I wonder why?), but where content to receive their money back once Mr Mara was in a position to do so."

Desmond gave Mara IR£46,000 between 1986 and 1989 (the equivlant of two semi-detached houses in a half decent Dublin suburb at the time).

Oliver Barry was behind the doomed Century Radio venture. The Report concluded that former FF Minister Ray Burke recieved corrupt payments (IR£100,000) in relation to the radio licence.

In return for the bung, Burke introduced the controversial cap on RTE's advertising revenue. While it's intention was to aide Century, all it did was send much needed ad revenue out of our economy into the British one (Ulster TV, Channel Four).

And for the record, Mara was found not to have received corrupt payments.

However, I do wonder if Desmond happened to live in lets say Burchester England, then would said payments be deemed by said friend not to have been loans but instead gifts.

[Nedz Newt]

A spinster is an unmarried woman.
Sensational new Mara allegation!

[HanleyS]

"Vincent!"

[Limerick Lad]

A spinster is an unmarried woman.
Sensational new Mara allegation!

Celia's replacement as the bag woman?

[FutureLabourLeader]

A spinster is an unmarried woman.
Sensational new Mara allegation!

[the-analyst2007]

Well according to the Grolier Webster International Dictionary (1982 edition):

"spin-ster, spin'ster, n. An unmarried woman past the usual or conventional age for marrying; an old maid; a woman who spins as an occupation - spin-ster-hood, n. - spin-ster-ish, a."

Sounds right to me.

[Nedz Newt]

Well according to the Grolier Webster International Dictionary (1982 edition):

"spin-ster, spin'ster, n. An unmarried woman past the usual or conventional age for marrying; an old maid; a woman who spins as an occupation - spin-ster-hood, n. - spin-ster-ish, a."

Sounds right to me.

Wan - ker, wan'ker, n. analyst with too much time on hands, and no spin-ster, or other wom'an to play with.

[the-analyst2007]

Nedz, why do you use such vulgur language against moi?

All I am doing is highlighting that Berts "loans" excuse was used before by his GE spin doctor.

[Trefor]

I thought that he was a man, & a married one at that.

[Nedz Newt]

Nedz, why do you use such vulgur language against moi?

All I am doing is highlighting that Berts "loans" excuse was used before by his GE spin doctor.

Analyst,
Genuine apologies, I realise it must have read much more offensive than intended.
I just got a first fit of the giggles when I saw the word spinster, then another one when I saw the extract from the dictionary, and I just decided to play along with that.
It was only meant as a bit of craic, I hope no hard feelings,
Nedz