Former 'Examiner' reporter and the 'Thundering Disgrace' saga

Now closed, Columb Barracks in Mullingar was at the centre of a national scandal almost 40 years ago. What happened that day is about to be replayed on RTE One on Monday evening at 7.30pm in the first programme of a new series of 'Scannal'.

Former 'Westmeath Examiner' reporter, Don Lavery was the only member of the media present when on October 18, 1976 the then Minister for Defence, Mr Paddy Donegan, TD arrived to perform the opening of a new cookhouse facility in the Mullingar Barracks.

What appeared to be a routine marking for the young reporter was to prove anything but as Minister Donegan declared to the massed ranks present that their Supreme Commander and President of Ireland, Cearbhall Dálaigh, was a "Thundering disgrace!"

Those infamous words were to create a constitutional crisis which was to lead to Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh becoming the first President of Ireland to resign from office.

Don Lavery looks back on that momentous occasion in Monday night's programme.