Writing in The Irish Times under the pseudonym Backbencher, journalist John Healy claimed that Costelloe's election was due to the "Kerry Mafia" in the Fianna Fáil party who had insisted that Moloney, a Kerry native, should be replaced by someone from the same area.
Writing under the pseudonym Backbencher in The Irish Times, journalist John Healy asserted that Costelloe's election was due to the "Kerry Mob" within the Fianna Fáil party who had insisted on replacing Moloney, a Kerry native, with someone from the same area.