McDowell accused of hypocrisy over Connolly claims

Fine Gael has accused Minister for Justice Michael McDowell of hypocrisy in his treatment of journalist Frank Connolly.

Mr McDowell is coming under intense fire over his decision to use his Dáil privilege to accuse Mr Connolly of involvement with the IRA.

Mr McDowell has claimed the journalist travelled to Colombia on a false passport in 2001 as part of an IRA mission to train local rebels in the use of explosives.

He has also admitted that he personally leaked the allegation to a national newspaper.

Fine Gael TD Jim O'Keefe said this highlighted the hypocrisy of Mr McDowell in light of his recent legislation designed to stop Gardaí from leaking stories to the media.