McDowell is unfit for office: independent TDs

INDEPENDENT TDs yesterday added their support to the families of some sex abuse victims demanding the resignation of Justice Minister Michael McDowell.

Dublin TD Finian McGrath led six of his Dáil colleagues in calling for the embattled minister to stand down, over his handling of the crisis triggered by the Supreme Court’s ruling that statutory rape laws are unconstitutional.

Mr McGrath said the minister was unfit for office after admitting he had “no inkling” the ruling was coming until it was announced last week — despite the Justice Department being warned about it as long ago as November 2002.