Coughlan denies timing of Garda corruption report was staged

TÁNAISTE Mary Coughlan last night denied the Government tried to “bury” a report on alleged Garda corruption by releasing it on the same day as the new Taoiseach was elected.

The sixth Morris report into allegations of misconduct by Donegal officers had been available for release for nearly a fortnight, but was issued on the last possible day, Wednesday, when Mr Cowen’s move to Taoiseach dominated the political and media agenda.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore branded it an “act of cynicism” and compared the move to the notorious email sent out by a British government spin doctor on September 11, 2001, telling colleagues it was a “good day to bury bad news”.