A spokesperson for Fine Gael European election candidate Francis Fitzgerald has insisted she was not trying to sell us a pup when she shared a tall tale about a lost puppy in Dublin.
It’s after the former Tánaiste insisted she took the lead in returning the pup to its owner while out canvassing in Ranelagh on Saturday.
Deputy Fitzgerald tweeted a picture of a small dog with the caption: “Found this little guy at the Triangle in Ranelagh.”
She said she rang the number on his collar only to find that the owner was none other than former Tánaiste – and current Senator – Michael McDowell.
No you didn’t find him. I did. And you commandeered him for a photo op when I asked to borrow your colleagues phone to call his owner. — Kelly Mackenzie (@kellyellen) May 4, 2019
It soon seemed she had bitten off more than she could chew however, after Twitter user Kelly MacKenzie accused her of taking liberties with the truth.
“No you didn’t find him,” she wrote. “I did.”
“And you commandeered him for a photo op when I asked to borrow your colleagues phone to call his owner.”
This morning, a spokesperson for Deputy Fitzgerald insisted she wasn’t trying to sell us a pup.
She said a member of the public left the dog in their care after asking if they had a phone to call the owner.
She said Deputy Fitzgerald was as surprised as anyone when that owner turned out to be Senator McDowell - adding that she is just happy that the dog is safe and well at home.
The European elections are due to take place on Friday May 24th.
