Has the Bull lost his horns?

So John O’Donoghue is remaining tight-lipped about his lavish expenses while Minister for Fun! How times have changed.

It wasn’t that long ago when, as a member of Kerry County Council, John was more than vocal of his criticism of another Kerry
politician’s ‘lavish excess’.

When Dick Spring - as Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs - travelled to New York in the 1990s and opted to stay in the plush Waldorf Astoria rather than the Irish-owned Fitzpatrick’s Hotel - John couldn’t contain himself.

On several occasions in the Council chamber, John took a pop at Spring - who was once referred to by Willie O’Dea as ‘The Bollinger Bolshevick’ - for his decision to stay in the Waldorf as opposed to Fitzpatricks.

John was always good on the attack - ask poor Nora Owen who was often the subject of his maulings. She still has the scars to prove it!

But now that John has the office, cloak and chain of the Ceann Comhairle to hide behind, it seems the Biting Bulldog has turned into a Pampered Pooch.