Author calls Hogan to book over bold launch appearance

The author of a new book on Peter DeLoughry, the former mayor of Kilkenny who engineered Éamon de Valera’s escape from Lincoln Jail in 1919, has had a pop at Environment Minister Phil Hogan for turning up at the book launch — after he was asked to stay away.

Declan Dunne, grandson of Peter DeLoughry and author of Peter’s Key, wrote a withering assessment of Mr Hogan’s decision to attend last weekend’s launch on the Peter DeLoughry TD Facebook page.

The launch, in Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny, last Saturday attracted 400 people — and Mr Hogan.