Champagne football
Mark Tighe and Paul Rowan
Penguin Press
The world owes a lot to investigative journalists. Those people who report facts in chronological order. They will have opinions that may sneak through but most of the words are based on fact. I subscribe to the Irish times and each Saturday when I read their opinion pieces I promise myself I will cancel it. Then I think about independent journalism and cling to that hope for another week.
I have some personal experience from trade union activity of personalities mentioned it this book. People who have spent their careers representing those who are less fortunate and seeking solutions. People who did this with great distinction.
The facts as stated here are about a series of events leading to people who have power potentially abusing that power. Sometimes for the better good and sometimes for personal gain. They reach a certain level and it seems like they feel they are beyond reproach. It isn’t just the FAI that are like this but many organisations with these structures.
People volunteer, they have a belief they can make a difference. Many make that difference and get elected to high positions. When in the high positions their peers become a different group altogether. People they will have read about, or seen on tv. Some like this attention and don’t want to let go. That can be a dangerous thing. Activities can be done for different reasons.
That is why it is important to have an independent media holding all bodies to account. That is why, for me, it is important to support such media. It is also important not to fall into a trap of being excited by the allure of power. Rowan and Tighe have done a great job here of chronicling events around John Delaney. A huge amount of work has gone into presenting the facts, no need for opinions just plain details.
niallhope
