Hogan threat to Childers may be issue at hearing

Legal warnings, including a threat of court action against an Irish MEP, from Ireland’s Commissioner designate, Phil Hogan, is threatening to become a major issue at his parliament hearing next week.

Mr Hogan has strenuously denied allegations by Dublin MEP Nessa Childers that, when Environment Minister, he intervened in the allocation of social housing in Kilkenny. He says the allegations are now the subject of two High Court proceedings.

However, the issue has become one about freedom of expression following his issuing three lawyers’ letters to Ms Childers.