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Former Irish Prime Minister Garrett Fitzgerald fights for life

Family hold bed-side vigil for the former Fine Gael leader

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, May 8, 2011, 8:15 AM

Updated Sunday, May 8, 2011, 8:17 AM

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Former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Garret Fitzgerald

Former Irish Prime Minister Dr Garret Fitzgerald continues to fight for his life in a Dublin hospital.

Doctors at the Mater hospital have placed the one time Fine Gael leader on a ventilator.

Family members have continued to hold a bedside vigil as the 85-year-old battles chronic pneumonia.

Dr Fitzgerald was rushed to hospital last week after he became ill at his Dublin home.

His condition deteriorated rapidly and he has remained in a serious condition ever since.

A Fine Gael spokesman said on Sunday that: “Dr Fitzgerald’s condition remains unchanged and his family are at his bedside.”

A renowned economics expert, Dr Fitzgerald twice led Fine Gael-Labor coalition governments in the 1980s.

He campaigned for Yes votes in both the Lisbon Treaty referendums and still writes a political and economics column for the Irish Times.

Nster.com

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LoyalCitizen | May 08, 2011, 02:59 PM EDT

Leech / Parasite/ Traitor. Sums up Irish Politicians.

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DanOLoingsigh | May 08, 2011, 12:09 PM EDT

Trealach – before ‘Brain-dead knee’ replies, the FG/Lab coalition ran from 1973 – 77. He hasn’t spelt it out his allegations, so I’m not sure what he’s alluding to either…maybe the section 31 restrictions? The only torture round here is BDKnee's torture of the facts. His inappropriate language, both about GF and whenever anyone disagrees with him says as much about him as anyone needs to know…

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Trealach | May 08, 2011, 11:46 AM EDT

@WoundedKnee - WHAT torture and repression of the 70's? FG weren't elected to government until 1977 - that leaves 3 years of the 70's. Fitzgerald's 'Anglo-Irish' Agreement was the precursor of the many agreements which ultimately led to the Good Friday Agreement. While I didn't agree with his version or style of 'politics', he will go down in history as a great leader - which is MORE than can ever be said about you!

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seamusmoore | May 08, 2011, 10:28 AM EDT

@woundedKnee The lads up in "the Cross of Lennon" have been wondering, LOVE: Will you be visiting any time soon? They promise a special welcome for you, but only if you bring your dog-eared copy of your former Columbia prof's epic tome "Orientalism" and its classic theory of post-colonialism. The late Edward Said, Anglo-Egyptian "nancyboy" and CHAMPION of the Palestian people. In the annals of liberation, Eddie doesn't exactly rank with George Washington, Simon Bolivar or Michael Collins, does he now? Post-colonialism is the specific topic "the lads" would like to discuss with you, so by all means, be prepared and have your ducks (and affairs as well) in order. BYE BYE for now, and FAREWELL forever as we will miss you at IC.

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WoundedKnee | May 08, 2011, 08:25 AM EDT

Extraordinary that Dervan's bio information on Fitzgerald makes no mention of the latter's role in the torture and repression in the Ireland of the 1970s. Omitted too is any serious consideration of Fitzgerald's role as Chief Europropagandist in Ireland for the past three decades. Take a look at Ireland today, and see the results of Fitzy's inane boosterism of the EU. What an over=rated mediocrity. Garrulous doesn't mean gifted.

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