O’Dea apologises to pub row woman

EMBATTLED Defence Minister, Willie O’Dea yesterday issued an apology to the woman he is accused of verbally abusing in a Limerick pub.

Following on the Irish Examiner revelations last Thursday that Mr O’Dea had been involved in an incident in W J South’s pub with Shannon Airport activists John Fahey and Geraldine Morrissey, the Limerick Leader’s Friday edition carried a follow-up story in which Mr O’Dea was quoted as saying Ms Morrissey “had a rake of drink taken”.

Mr O’Dea denied making the comment when contacted by a Sunday newspaper journalist.

However, yesterday he admitted he had been correctly quoted and in another interview with the Limerick Leader apologised to Ms Morrissey: “I said that in the heat of the moment and I apologise for it. I am not an expert in that area.”

This latest gaffe is seen as further undermining Mr O’Dea’s situation.

The incident and BMI’s decision to pull out of talks on a Shannon/ Heathrow service has caused huge political damage to the minister.

A well-placed source said: “The whole thing won’t hit his core vote in Limerick that much, but on the wider scene it will have caused him major damage and instead of cabinet promotion he will be clinging on to his government post. The fact he has now had to apologise for a remark passed about Ms Morrissey having at first denied making the comment, is another blow to him.”

Ms Morrissey and Mr Fahey have refused to comment further on the matter, but it is believed that Mr O’Dea is now anxious to arrange a meeting with them so as to try and bring resolution to the affair.

Sources close to Mr Fahey and Ms Morrissey say they have received a huge level of support for the manner in which they took on the minister.

Mr O’Dea has also said he will be raising the Shannon issue at a cabinet meeting today. However, given his criticism of Transport Minister Noel Dempsey during the Shannon storm, it is unlikely he will receive much support from Mr Dempsey and the cabinet.