TDs hit trouble over appeals

IN JANUARY 2007, a Freedom of Information request revealed then Junior Minister for Trade, Tony Killeen, had written to the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell seeking the early release of a child rapist.

Mr Killeen, a Clare deputy, had made two requests for Joseph Nugent, aged 75, to be considered for release before his sentence was due to finish in February 2008. In 2002, Nugent received two sentences of six years and one sentence of three years all to run concurrently for raping two girls.

Mr Killeen said the letters were sent from his office before he saw them and he subsequently met Nugent’s two victims to apologise.

The previous October, Fine Gael’s deputy in Clare, Pat Breen, made a similar request on behalf of Nugent. He also apologised.

In 2002 then Progressive Democrat Junior Minister, Bobby Molloy, was exposed after his aide contacted a trial judge to lobby on behalf of a man who was convicted of rape.

Patrick Naughton was sentenced to 11 years for raping his daughter. However, at the sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Philip O’Sullivan revealed the contact from Mr Molloy’s office after the trial had finished. Mr Molloy resigned, but said there was nothing dishonest and he was acting on behalf of Naughton’s sister.

The request was based on Naughton’s intention to appeal his case to the Court of Criminal Appeal.