TD backs hunger striker’s fight to clear name

A FIANNA Fáil TD has backed hunger striker Kathryn Nelson’s assertion that she is innocent of involvement in money laundering for the IRA.

Deputy Sean O’Fearghaill said he did not believe Ms Nelson would engage in any criminal activity and said it would be helpful if the gardaí would publicly declare whether they had any continued interest in her.

The Kildare South TD is a former pupil of Ms Nelson, who taught in her native Co Kildare until 1990, when she left following a dispute with the Vocational Education Committee to take up a teaching position in Libya. He said he was “absolutely sure” of his former teacher’s innocence.