Taoiseach defends McDowell’s actions

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday insisted there was no Government campaign to bring down the Centre for Public Inquiry (CPI), the independent investigative body led by Frank Connolly.

Mr Ahern staunchly defended Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s handling of the Connolly affair, saying he had “dealt with this matter at all times in a proper way”.

The minister has accused Mr Connolly of travelling to Colombia on a false passport in April 2001 as part of a wider IRA plot to provide FARC rebels with explosives training.