ALMOST immediately after the announcement

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Dec 14, 2008 | by Murphy

ALMOST immediately after the announcement of a new referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, bookmaker Paddy Power was already slashing the odds on a Yes vote.

Apparently, eager punters couldn't wait to put bets of up to EUR5,000 a time backing a Yes to Lisbon result in October's re-run.

Of course, Paddy Power got the first referendum result wrong, and ended up shelling out more than EUR80,000 to canny gamblers who backed No.

This time, the bookie claims to be hedging all bets.

Brian Cowen, on the other hand, has gone all in.

Murphy understands that if the Taoiseach can't carry Lisbon at the second time of asking he could end up facing an early leadership challenge within Fianna Fail.