McDowell defends Morris Tribunal delay

JUSTICE MINISTER Michael McDowell last night insisted that a 37-page summary of the Carty report into garda misconduct in Donegal did not give a strong enough basis for launching a tribunal of inquiry there and then.

The ferocious row surrounding when the Government first became aware of the gravity of the allegations continued in the Dáil yesterday, with a sustained attack on Mr McDowell and former Justice Minister John O’Donoghue by Labour leader Pat Rabbitte and Greens leader Trevor Sargent.

Mr Rabbitte said the full details of the 37-page document written by then Asst Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy, and leaked to the media over the weekend, showed that it gave a very comprehensive report of the findings of the Carty investigation. When Mr O’Donoghue received it in August 2000, contended Mr Rabbitte, he would have been in no doubt as to the ‘gravamen’ of the allegations.