McDowell defends record on garda affair

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell yesterday stood over his handling of the Donegal garda misconduct allegations despite the Government’s decision to issue a full solemn apology to the McBrearty family for their wrongful persecution by gardaí.

In a robust defence of his own record on the matter, which provoked outrage from the opposition, Mr McDowell denied that the Government had been reluctant or unwilling to set up a tribunal into the allegations.

He said when he was Attorney General in the previous Government he was “kept away” from full possession of all the information in relation to the Donegal incidents until late 2001.