Paper declines to release tape of interview

THE Limerick Leader is declining to give out copies of the taped interview between Defence Minister Willie O’Dea and one of its senior reporters, the contents of which has led to the vote of no confidence being table in Willie O’Dea in the Dáil.

Alan English, who is editor of the Limerick Leader and its sister paper the Limerick Chronicle, said verbatim transcripts of the interview are available and they did not see the need to furnish media with copies of the actual tape.

The interview took place on March 9 last at the Clarion Hotel and a story based on it was carried the following day on page one of the Chronicle.