Labour leader criticises 'over-the-top' Government reaction to TV show

The Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte said today that the Government's reaction to the Rip Off Republic TV programme has been ugly and over-the-top.

Mr Rabbitte says the whispering campaign to denigrate Eddie Hobbs, including the delivery of anonymous envelopes of material, has been sickening.

Mr Rabbitte says the programme is open to criticism like any other.

But he said efforts to link its presenter with the collapse of the Taylor Finance Group are without foundation.