Micheál Martin: Fake ads about me originated in Russia and were paid for with stolen credit cards 

The Tánaiste said he had received more co-operation from Google than X, despite that company hosting 'a series of ads' about him

Micheal Martin said the ads had originated in Belarus and Russia, though he could not say if his outspoken criticism of Russia made him a target.

Stolen credit cards were used to buy online ads which wrongly used the Tánaiste's image, Micheál Martin said.

Earlier this year, Mr Martin confirmed he is pursuing "false and defamatory" ads that were posted about him on social media site X, formerly Twitter, in March.