Victims reject Sean O Fearghail's 'self-serving' statement about his reference for convicted paedophile

The Dáil's speaker, Sean O Fearghail, has explained the circumstances which led him to write a reference for a convicted sex abuser in his constituency in 2006.

Mr O Fearghail, re-elected as Ceann Comhairle last Thursday, has come under fire in recent days for writing a reference for Joseph Dempsey, who was jailed for six years for the rape and 15 counts of indecent and sexual assault against his nephew Shane, who waived his anonymity.