SF Covid fund debacle: Story sparks parallels with Father Ted

There has been a strong reaction online to the story of how Sinn Fein ended up reciveing £30,000-worth of business support grants intended solely for struggling businesses.
Father Ted (Dermot Morgan)Father Ted (Dermot Morgan)
Father Ted (Dermot Morgan)

One of the main responses it has sparked is a large-scale re-tweeting of a catchphrase made famous by the sitcom Father Ted: “The money was just resting in my account!”

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The News Letter counted around 25 memes, GIFs, or tweets referencing this in about a 24-hour period.

A recurring joke in the show sees hapless priest Father Ted Crilly repeatedly and desperately announcing to visitors that “the money was just resting in my account”, in an attempt to convince them about how funds for the needy had ended up in his own bank.

Among the other comments on Twitter was one from Unite union activist Donal O Cofaigh, who wondered: “Why would any political party office be on a business grant beneficiary list in the first place?

“How many other party offices benefited?”

Another social media user, @AnnieKeegan, wrote: “Sinn Fein offices taking Covid business grants that they are ineligible for.

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“They’d be the very people roaring and shouting if Apple or similar did this. Classic.”

And the leader of the Irish Senate, Regina Doherty, wrote: “How long did it take for this to be paid back? Serious questions to be answered ...”

It is not the first mistake concerning this fund.

Earlier this week it emerged that 52 wind turbine owners, who were retrospectively deemed ineligible, had also received payments.

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