MORE than €5.3 million was paid in golden handshake payments to 75 TDs who lost their seats or retired in February’s general elections.

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny has refused to criticise three of his TDs who had the Dáil record changed so their absences, caused by Iceland’s volcanic ash cloud, would not be highlighted.

FORMER Justice Minister Gerry Collins yesterday accused Charles J Haughey of acting “illegally” when he authorised citizenship papers for a 14-year-old Lebanese girl.