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.