Beleaguered Defence Minister's accidental salute

Defence Minister Willie O’Dea today swapped his infamous gun-slinging pose in front of the cameras for a more unorthodox salute.

After coming under fire for taking aim at photographers with an automatic pistol hours after a brutal gangland murder, the minister was caught out for a second time in less than week.

Pictured at the launch of the Civil Defence Board strategy for 2007, Mr O’Dea was spotted accidentally giving a less than courteous gesture as he scratched his nose.

The minister arrived for the photo-shoot, which the media had been promised would offer excellent photographic opportunities, guarded by an army of press and PR officers.

The event did not disappoint with Mr O’Dea, flanked by Civil Defence force representatives, caught giving an unintentional two-fingered salute to the press pack as he rubbed his face.

Unawares and following the furore surrounding his ill-timed pose, Mr O’Dea refused to be drawn on whether he had shot himself in the foot by posing with a Beretta handgun.

“The events of last week are last week, this is this week,” he said.

“The events of last week were interesting and as I said they are over and done with.”

Quickly his PR protector cut across waiting reporters: “That’s it,” she said.

Addressing emergency response volunteers in Phoenix Park, the minister paid a glowing tribute to the the 6,000 men and women who back up the nation’s ambulance, fire and rescue crews.

Rifling through the pages of the board’s plan, Mr O’Dea thanked all those who give up their free time help emergency teams all year round.

“It should not be forgotten that Civil Defence is a volunteer based organisation and that all volunteer members give freely of their time to acquire skills that will be vital to the local community in times of need,” he said.

“Acquiring these skills involves many hours of training and it is this selflessness and dedication that once again demonstrates the wonderful volunteer ethos that is at the very core of the Civil Defence organisation.”

And Mr O’Dea said he hoped the plan would turn the informal ties between volunteers and professionals into more formal links.

The minister also revealed the headquarters of the Board in Roscrea, Co Tipperary would be ready early in the New Year.