FF TDs support representations for prisoners

A NUMBER of Fianna Fáil TDs last night justified making political representations on behalf of prisoners.

The TDs were speaking during the private weekly meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party at Leinster House. The issue was raised by Minister of State Tony Killeen and Cork South West TD Denis O’Donovan.

Clare TD Mr Killeen was heavily criticised in recent weeks when it emerged he had made representations seeking the early release of paedophile Joseph Nugent and killer Christopher Cooney.

Mr Killeen met with Nugent’s victims to apologise. He also met with Nora Lynch, whose son was killed by Cooney.

Mr O’Donovan attended the latter meeting in his capacity as constituency TD for Cork South West, where Ms Lynch resides.

After that meeting, Mr Killeen and Mr O’Donovan floated the idea of a cross- party protocol prohibiting TDs from seeking the early release of prisoners.

They pledged to raise the issue at last night’s parliamentary party meeting.

Mr Killeen told his Fianna Fáil colleagues of the Lynch family’s feelings on the issue, and said he had written to the cross-party Oireachtas Committee on Procedures and Privileges to determine “what’s attainable” in terms of a protocol. That committee will decide whether guidelines are feasible.

But several TDs at the meeting voiced their opposition to the idea of any protocol.

Speaking following the meeting, Cork North Central TD Noel O’Flynn said: “You can’t have a situation preventing a genuine representation being made by a member of the Oireachtas in cases where there could be a miscarriage of justice or alleged mistreatment of a prisoner.”

Government chief whip Tom Kitt said there was recognition at the meeting that TDs had the right to make representations in cases which they felt warranted them.

He said he supported Mr Killeen’s letter to the procedural committee asking it to examine the whole issue.