THE National Disability Authority (NDA) has called on the Government to retain an independent agency to deal with disability issues.

Pressure was tonight mounting on under-fire Minister for Justice Michael McDowell over his failure to amend the State’s rape laws, which allowed a paedophile to walk free from court and could see up to eight others released.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell was last night accused of “dangerous and dictatorial” behaviour over the way he released documents relating to Frank Connolly to a national newspaper.