TD goes on attack after censure by colleagues

A CONDEMNED Michael Lowry made a desperate but stinging attack on his colleagues as TDs pressed the disgraced politician to resign from office.

Refusing to go after a cross-party motion called for his resignation, Mr Lowry also called on the Government to speed up any Garda inquiry into his financial affairs.

The embattled Tipperary TD fought back after a week of criticism over his alleged role in fixing the outcome of the state’s second mobile phone licence in the mid-1990s.

Parties unanimously passed a motion to censure Mr Lowry which, while leaving a “black mark” on his name, is ineffectual because the Dáil is powerless to eject Mr Lowry from the Oireachtas.

The motion called on the TD to resign voluntarily on foot of his “unacceptable behaviour” disclosed in the Moriarty Tribunal report and was passed without a vote.

Mr Lowry was given time to reply because of “natural justice”, much to the annoyance of the opposition, and again he hit out at the tribunal’s findings.

The former communications minister said that no charges had been brought against him and he was “not a criminal”. Mr Lowry said none of his Dáil colleagues had actually read the 2,400-page report and had instead “gone on sound bites” from the media.

He requested that the motion for him to resign would not affect his rights and privileges as an elected representative. But then the defiant TD struck out at colleagues.

He criticised Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, saying his “hypocrisy” had been exposed.

“The kind of posturing that was taken up by the new leader of Fianna Fáil, Deputy Martin, with this clean-cut, Steve Silvermint image, it won’t be long for the wraps to come off that.

“I’m sure we won’t have to wait too long before some other report or issue comes before the house.”

Mr Lowry lashed out at Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald over her criticism about time and “natural justice” being afforded to the disgraced TD. He said he would not take a lecture from a member of a party “associated with atrocities, mutilation, murder on civilians and unarmed gardaí... in relation to my behaviour,” he said.

Mr Lowry also asked Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore to ensure that any Garda inquiry into his financial affairs be carried out “expeditiously” and “brought to an end”.