McDowell treatment of murder victim’s family criticised by PD colleague

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell’s treatment of the family of murdered hotel trainee manager Gráinne Dillon came under fire from one of his Progressive Democrats colleagues yesterday.

The family of the 24-year-old hotel worker only learned through the media that her killer’s appeal for transfer to a jail in his native Portugal is being actively considered by the minister.

Paolo Alexander Nascimento, who was given a mandatory sentence for Ms Dillon’s murder, wants to serve out his term in a prison in his home country. Mr McDowell has applied to the Central Criminal Court in Dublin for a transcript of the trial for use in his deliberations.