O'Dea rejects criticism of pistol photos

Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has rejected criticism of his decision to pose for photographers while holding an automatic pistol.

Mr O'Dea is pictured on the front of two national newspapers this morning looking down the sight of the gun with a smile on his face.

The photographs were taken at a training exercise in the Curragh yesterday.

Opposition politicians have accused the minister of engaging in a tasteless and insensitive publicity stunt at a time when gun crime is creating real fear on the streets.

Mr O'Dea later said he was sorry if anyone was offended, but he accused the opposition of trying to make a big issue of something meaningless.