McDowell defends Connolly passport claim

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell insisted yesterday he was protecting the security of the State by claiming journalist Frank Connolly travelled to Colombia on a false passport.

Mr Connolly last week strenuously denied he ever visited the Latin American country and accused the minister of supporting a witch hunt against him and the privately-funded Centre for Public Inquiry (CPI).

But Mr McDowell yesterday said ministers, as well as private citizens, had a duty of loyalty to the State.