Rabbitte ‘abused Dáil privilege’

FORMER Fianna Fáil TD Liam Lawlor has accused Labour leader Pat Rabbitte of abusing Dáil privilege to make false accusations against him.

He reacted angrily last night to remarks made by Mr Rabbitte about the people behind a controversial British property company, Jackson Way Properties, earlier this week.

In the Dáil last Wednesday, during an exchange with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern about lands at Carrickmines owned by Jackson Way, Mr Rabbitte claimed the company, which has been awarded 13m in compensation for the compulsory purchase of part of the site, was owned by arcade owner Jim Kennedy, solicitor John Caldwell and “a former Fianna Fáil deputy and chairman of the Fianna Fáil Ethics Committee”.

Mr Lawlor said such comments, which included a reference to himself were “outrageous, malicious and at total variance with the facts”. He claimed such remarks would be actionable in law if Mr Rabbitte repeated them outside the confines of the Dáil.

Mr Lawlor said he intended to raise the matter with the Dáil Committee of Procedures and Privileges with regard to a possible censure of the Labour leader.

The former TD, who is at the centre of allegations of corruption at the Planning Tribunal for several years, said he had repeatedly denied allegations that he was involved in the ownership of Jackson Way to the tribunal.

He added that he would welcome the opportunity to debate the issue with Mr Rabbitte in any forum.

However, a spokesperson for Mr Rabbitte last night said the Labour leader would not dignify anything that Mr Lawlor said with a response.