I’m victim of smear campaign, says Barrett

THE leader of the No to Nice campaign, Justice Barrett, yesterday claimed he was a victim of a smear campaign after his alleged links with a right-wing group of German Neo-Nazis were exposed.

Mr Barrett, a leading figure in the anti-abortion group Youth Defence, spoke at a right-wing National Democratic Party (NDP) rally in Germany which authorities there believe has Nazi characteristics. But Mr Barrett yesterday rejected claims he had any links with the party and insisted he had no knowledge of the group’s policies.

The revelations prompted further division in the No camp yesterday, as the Greens moved to distance themselves from the remarks. “We have no links whatsoever with this party,” Mr Barrett said. “I believe I may have spoken on the abortion issue to this party and others, but I’ve had no contact with them. We certainly have no organisational links, we are not part of the one organisation and I don’t even know what the party’s ideology is.”