Noonan Cheers Bank Robbery Of Evicted Kelly's

Judging from the government-sanctioned hysteria over the property portfolio of evicted Killiney residents, Brendan and Asta Kelly - you'd think the couple's biggest problem is their relative wealth. Not really.

Their biggest problem is: they aren't wealthy enough. Nor connected enough.

The government is not in the business of keeping "people in 21 different homes," Michael Noonan told the Dail.

Unless, of course, the person resides in 21 different homes on four continents and jets privately all the time.

That real top tier don't sweat for a lifetime to finally aspire to invest in a dream €3million-ish house.

That real top tier earn €3million-ish every month - or at least every year if a lesser cog.

That real top tier are off Michael Noonan's map entirely. And Phil Hogan's too.

"We must distinguish between people who can’t pay and people who won’t pay," Michael Noonan told the Dail.

Guess who won't pay?

Top bankers won't pay. Bondholders won't pay. Tycoons won't pay. Cronies won't pay. Cosy cartels won't pay. Government-pensioned, ex-insiders won't pay.

You'll pay. Even if you can't pay. Brendan and Asta Kelly will pay. Even if they can't pay. So, the Kelly's lose their houses while the bankers keep theirs. They keep their jobs with perks - and get the Kelly's houses to boot. It's like a bank robbery - but the bank does the robbing. There's a lot of it about.

Remember, Michael Noonan can easily distinguish between people who won’t pay. Ever. And people whose only plea is that they can’t pay.

Kicking the Kelly's when they're down (from the defamation-proof benches of the Dail) shows us that Michael Noonan has learned nothing down the years. Go dance on Bridget McCole's grave.

Gutter populism from Fine Gael is a poisoned chalice. Don't drink from it.

Brendan and Asta Kelly aren't connected. Neither are you. You're just common people.

And as common people --unless modest wealth is now a stain of guilt-- the Kelly couple are entitled to aspire, and entitled to a presumption that they are decent people in trouble.

That's how we do things in a decent society. No matter how troubled the times.

Accord the Kelly's due process and fairness or Phil, Michael and Enda will be coming for you and yours soon enough.