Civil servant suspended amid paedophile investigation

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has confirmed that a civil servant in the Chief State Solicitor's Office has been suspended amid investigations into the alleged sexual abuse of a teenage boy.

The official is among a number of men questioned by gardaí in connection over claims that a 14-year-old boy was paid for sex by men who made contact with him via a gay website.

The others under investigation include an English teacher, a lorry driver and a trainee garda.

Mr McDowell confirmed today that the official had been suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry, but his duties had nothing whatsoever to do with the type of offences involved in the case.