Cowen: Wrongdoers should face full rigours of law

Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen has said anybody involved in wrongdoing of the type highlighted in yesterday’s Flood Tribunal report should face the full rigours of the law.

Mr Cowen described yesterday’s revelation that former Fianna Fail TD Ray Burke received several corrupt payments as profoundly significant.

He added that the Flood Report sends out a clear message that politicians involved in corruption have nowhere to hide.

Meanwhile, Tiernan Brady, a Fianna Fail councillor in Donegal south-west, has called for Mr Burke to be jailed if he is found guilty of corruption.

Mr Brady described yesterday’s revelations as horrendous and said the Flood report must be followed up with action.

“There’s no point talking about how terrible it is for the next four weeks and then forgetting about it,” he said.

“We must act on it, we must put in place legislation that will catch these people and punish these people. We have to make sure that politics is open to those who want to provide public service.”