Public 'paid €250,000 to pursue TD's source'

TAXPAYERS forked out €250,000 for the Morris Tribunal to force a TD to name a whistle blower who had already made himself known to the inquiry, it was claimed last night.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O'Keeffe described the affair as "extraordinary" and said he would raise the matter in the Dáil.

As revealed in yesterday's Irish Examiner, Labour TD Brendan Howlin confirmed Dublin-based senior counsel Martin Giblin was the man who tipped him off about alleged wrong-doing in the gardaí in Donegal.