Minister faces calls to resign today

Justice Minister John O’Donoghue today faced calls to resign as controversy surrounding political attempts to contact a trial judge before sentencing a man for rape deepened.

A correspondence file released by Mr O’Donghue yesterday showed there was an exchange of 14 letters between the justice minister and Housing Minister Bobby Molloy. Three of these sought interventions on the criminal’s behalf, including a request that he be given temporary release during the delay between conviction and sentencing.