AG never advised on legality of fees

MICHAEL McDOWELL as Attorney General never advised the Government about the legal basis of nursing home charges, the Irish Examiner understands.

The Minister of Justice was AG in 2001 when he advised the Department of Health in relation to the report of Ombudsman Kevin Murphy on practices relating to subventing patients in private nursing homes.

But, according to reliable sources, his advice was confined to the subvention issue and did not include opinion on whether nursing home charges in State-run homes and residences were legal.