McDowell denies any part in journalist's arrest

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell denies he had any hand, act or part in the arrest of journalist Mick McCaffrey.

The former Evening Herald writer was taken into custody yesterday arising from a story he wrote in which he reported the contents of a leaked report into the Dean Lyons miscarriage of justice case.

The homeless drug addict was wrongly charged with the murder of two women Sylvia Sheils and Mary Callinan.

The arrest caused outrage in the Dáil this morning.

Questioned by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said that while he knows journalist Mick McCaffrey he had nothing to do with his arrest.

However, Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party hit back and said it was disgraceful that a journalist was arrested for telling the truth.

He said: "Nothing was learned from the Abbeylara siege."