JACK CHARLTON became a national hero after Eamon Dunphy spent 10 years telling the Irish people he was no good, the High Court heard yesterday.
Mr Dunphy told counsel for Mr Proinsias De Rossa, Mr Adrian Hardiman SC, that there was "life: after condemnation by Eamon Dunphy".
Mr Dunphy was giving evidence on the 10th day of the libel action against Independent Newspapers by the Minister for Social Welfare, Mr Proinsias De Rossa.
The Democratic Left leader is suing over an article by Mr. Dunphy in the Sunday In dependent on December 13th, 1992.
Denying that he had set out to "get" Mr De Rossa, Mr Dunphy asked Mr Hardiman if he could remind him of his record in journalism and the people he actually had tried to get.
"I spent 10 years trying to convince the Irish people that Jack Charlton was no good - he became a national hero," he said to laughter in the packed public gallery.
I wrote many dissenting pieces about Mary Robinson - she's the most popular person in the country. I said Roddy Doyle was a bad novelist. He's the most celebrated novelist in these islands. Fianna Fail have begged me not to endorse Bertie Ahern."
Mr Hardiman said that if Mr Dunphy had any more jokes, then he had better tell them now. Mr Dunphy said it was not a joke, it was a fad. He was a minority journalist band there should be somewhere for someone to express opinions which were not popular.
He had supported the travelling community for example, who were being attacked by bigots who appeared to be in a majority in this country.
"The best thing you could do," he told Mr Hardiman, "would be to get on the wrong side of me. You could become a national hero."
Mr Dunphy added that Mr De Rossa was on the back benches when he had written his article in the Sunday Independent; now he was in the Cabinet.
The Irish Times journalist Fintan O'Toole was another who had "continued to prosper" despite his "dissenting" views about him, Mr Dunphy said. Mr O'Toole was considered the most eminent journalist in the country and his views continued to be sought by The Irish Times, RTE and everyone else.
Mr Hardiman asked Mr Dunphy if he had heard of the phrase "hatchet job", and Mr Dunphy said he had. It was where you set out unfairly to depict someone in the worst possible light, without referring to what was good about them.
Mr Hardiman then asked about a photograph on the cover of Hot Press magazine last year in which Mr Dunphy had posed with an axe or a hatchet, running his fingers along the edge. The heading alongside was "The Axeman Speaketh". What was he suggesting?
Mr Dunphy said he was participating in an ironic joke. The joke was that there was a widespread perception of him as the Sunday Independent "boot boy". "It was me in a self deprecating, ironic pose. Really the point of that is if you read the copy in the interview what you see is a very ordinary human being with more than his share of mistakes, flaws.
"And that's the point, Mr Hardiman, that we can have in this society and that I can freely contribute to something that doesn't serve me. It demeans me and now you're using it against me and I have no problem with that at all."
The axe used was a piece of plastic.
He had decided to write about Fintan O'Toole and he did make a phone call to him as he had freely admitted in the Hot Press interview.
Mr Hardiman put it to the witness that he had said Proinsias De Rossa had behaved intimidatingly towards journalists. Was there anything more intimidating than saying to someone "I'm effing going to have you, baby"?
Mr Dunphy began to laugh.
Mr Hardiman: "Do you think it's funny?"
Mr Dunphy: "I do actually, yes. Fintan O'Toole is a considerable gentleman. He is not likely to be intimidated." Mr O'Toole was also a friendly colleague whom he admired.
Asked what Mr O'Toole had said in response to the phone call, Mr Dunphy said: "I think he said grow up."
Mr Hardiman said no, he hadn't said that, he had said "don't intimidate me". Mr Dunphy agreed.
Asked about his criticisms of President Robinson, Mr Dunphy said he had offered a minority view that was critical of her use of language in certain instances, and the fact that she had shook hands with Gerry Adams at a very sensitive time.
Mr Dunphy said there was a very timid journalistic environment in this country, but there was a robust tradition of journalism in Britain, where he had lived for 17 years.
Mr Hardiman asked Mr Dunphy to read a section of the interview he had given to Hot Press on March 6th last year.
Reading from an answer concerning Jack Charlton, Mr Dunphy quoted himself as saying: "Gay Byrne and Mary fucking Robinson and Pat fucking Kenny and The Irish fucking Times. And, if I hadn't been there, the Sunday Independent. And the Herald and those shitty newspapers like the Star, they created this icon who could do no wrong, who had done things he didn't do."
Mr Hardiman asked if this was the kind of robust opinion he meant when talking about freedom of speech. Mr Dunphy said yes, it was vulgar abuse which was part of freedom of speech.
He said he liked Jack Charlton, as he was a decent man.
Mr Hardiman: "Do you like Mr Gay Byrne?"
Mr Dunphy: "I love Mr Gay Byrne. He is one of the great people in this country. He has done a lot for free speech". He agreed that in the Hot Press interview he had called Mr Byrne a "gone, sad, pathetic figure". However, he believed the new Late Late Show season was excellent proof that there was life after condemnation by Eamon Dunphy.