Government in disarray as McDowell breaks ranks

THE Government was in disarray last night as it desperately struggled to maintain a united front on its controversial indemnity deal with religious orders.

Breaking ranks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and with his own party leader, Mary Harney, the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, came out for the first time yesterday to defend his lack of involvement in key negotiations.

In so doing, Mr McDowell, who was the Attorney General at the time, undermined the contention of the former Minister for Education, Michael Woods, and of the Taoiseach, that the Attorney General’s office had been involved “to an appropriate level at all times.”