McDowell facing Dáil questions over Connolly affair

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell is set to come under further pressure in the Dáil today over his controversial accusations against journalist Frank Connolly.

Mr McDowell has already been attacked by all the opposition parties for using his Dáil privilege to accuse Mr Connolly of involvement with the IRA.

Speaking last week in the House, where he cannot be sued for slander, the minister claimed Mr Connolly had travelled to Colombia on a false passport in the company of a known IRA man.

He claimed the journalist and anti-corruption campaigner, whose brother was one of the so-called Colombia Three, was part of an IRA plot to train Colombian rebels in the use of explosives.

Yesterday, Mr McDowell admitted that he had personally leaked details of the alleged false passport application to the media.

How ever, he continued to defend his actions, saying it was his right as minister to relay such information to the public.

Mr Connolly has accused Mr McDowell of making the accusations as part of a campaign to undermine the Centre for Public Inquiry, of which he is executive director.

The centre is funded by the US philanthropist Chuck Feeney and the minister has already revealed that he personally told Mr Feeney about Mr Connolly's alleged IRA links.

The American has since withdrawn his funding in a move that is expected to force the Centre for Public Inquiry to end its activities.