Killeen ‘won’t deal with prisoner issues’

UNDER-PRESSURE Junior Minister Tony Killeen last night promised to make no future representations for prisoners as it emerged his office had made two more interventions on behalf of a convicted murderer.

The storm around his office’s representations on behalf of murderer Chris Cooney intensified yesterday as it emerged that his office made a total of four representations on behalf of Cooney.

Earlier this week, it emerged that Mr Killeen’s office made two separate presentations in 2003 and 2005 seeking the early release of Cooney.

It increased the pressure on the Minister of State for Labour, who last night insisted that this was not a resigning matter.

Cooney was sentenced in December 1992 for the brutal and unprovoked murder of 22-year-old Cork man, Mr Rob Lynch, in the Banner Arms pub in Ennis in February 1991.

Mr Lynch’s mother, Nora, has said that it was too late for an apology from Mr Killeen on his office making representations.

She said: “Sorry, no. I don’t want his apology.”

Now, in response to a Freedom of Information request by the Irish Examiner, it shows that Mr Killeen’s office made an additional two representations on behalf of Cooney in a bid to secure him temporary release over the Christmas period in 2003 and 2004.

Both letters are signed on Mr Killeen’s behalf by his constituency secretary and former Clare Deputy mayor, Councillor Pat Daly (FF). Both representations were turned down by the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell.

In November 2003, Mr Killeen’s office wrote to Mr McDowell to state: “Cooney is working in the Training Unit and was regularly getting home monthly. Unfortunately, visits have now stopped and the family are hoping that he will get home for the Christmas period. I would be obliged if you could look favourably on his request.”

A further attempt was made by Mr Killeen’s office to secure Cooney’s temporary release in October 2004 with a letter stating that Cooney “is a prisoner in the training unit at Mountjoy for the past 13 years and I would be obliged if you could look favourably on releasing him for Christmas”.

But the Minister for Justice turned down the request.

Mr Killeen told the Irish Examiner last night that he had been under some pressure to resign. He admitted mistakes had been made, but said they had been addressed and rectified.

“In view of the amount of suffering the whole episode has brought back for the victims, in the future I will not deal with prisoner issues,” he said.

Maintaining that the representative role of the TD was important and was beneficial to society, he went on to say that it was also important to exercise sensitivity.

“In view of what Ms Lynch has said and the upset caused, I am not commenting other than to say I do not want to add to their grief,” he said.

Mr McDowell said he was happy with the explanation offered by Mr Killeen.