BACK IN the 1980s, Taher Diab was an enthusiastic member of Young Fine Gael’s branch in Dublin North East. He canvassed for Maurice Manning in the 1987 and 1989 elections, pounding the streets from Howth to Darndale and Raheny to Baldoyle.

Diab later moved to Italy, where he set up in business, but he kept in touch with his political mentor Manning, who had lectured him in politics and economics at UCD.

Early on Thursday afternoon the former FG senator – who is now president of the Irish Human Rights Commission and chancellor of the NUI – got a phonecall from his old student, now back home in his native Libya.

“He was really emotional, he was out on the street and I could hear gunfire in the background,” says Manning. “He told me they had got Gadafy, but he wasn’t sure if he was alive or dead.

“And he said to me: ‘You might remember me canvassing with you in Donaghmede in 1987, and I said to you then: ‘Maybe some day, Maurice, I will be able to canvass in my own country. I want to tell you this – it is now possible.’ ” The former senator recalled how the young Libyan “was a great canvasser, very enthusiastic and good-looking young fella with big soft eyes. The women loved him. I still didn’t get elected, though.”

The Benghazi-born businessman was exiled by the Gadafy regime. Now in his 40s, he is a member of Libya’s National Transitional Council. He told Maurice he was looking for Irish help to build the country’s democratic institutions. (Fianna Fáil are at a bit of a loose end just now. Just a thought. Maybe not.)

Diab said the man who discovered Gadafy had also been educated in Ireland. Stand by for a statue of Michael Collins in Tripoli.

Fine Gael’s quest for world domination continues . . .