Desperate Government's 'fear offensive' against Sinn Féin

FINE GAEL has been left red-faced after a senior Government strategist told the Sunday Business Post that its election tactic will be to frighten voters as to the dangers of a Sinn Féin-led government.

“We will scare the shit out of them for the last ten days [of the election],” a key Government strategist told the newspaper.

“There will be a huge assault on Sinn Féin after its rise today, and the Government parties will now embark on a full scale fear offensive, warning of the economic consequences of instability,” report Pat Leahy and Michael Brennan.

The comments came in the wake of a new opinion poll conducted by RedC for the newspaper which showed a jump in support for Sinn Féin to 20%, making it the second-largest party behind Fine Gael.

The poll also showed it was the most popular party among working-class voters as well as seeing an increase in support amongst 35-54 year olds.

The poll result surprised many as Sinn Féin had been under attack from the mainstream parties and the media for its position – echoed by the UN, Amnesty International and former President Mary Robinson – to abolish non-jury courts.

In December, the Irish Times reported on a secret meeting between high-ranking Fine Gael and Tory Party strategists in London.

“Fine Gael TDs took heart from David Cameron’s unexpected majority. The result, they believed, pointed the way to a strong Fine Gael election result based on a strong economic message clothed in arguments about political stability,” the Irish Times said, revealing that:

“In July, Enda Kenny’s Chief of Staff Mark Kennelly, Fine Gael General Secretary Tom Curran and Mark Mortell, a key political adviser to the Taoiseach, travelled to London for a two-day visit.

“The meeting was a closely-guarded secret.”

And, the Irish Times added:

“Contact has been kept up.”