Justice Minister brings hypocrisy to new level

EVEN the most hardened of cynics would find it difficult not to be amazed by the contents of yesterday’s long awaited statement by the Tánaiste, Michael McDowell, in support of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.

His most eye-catching pronouncement was on the issue of the leak from the Mahon Tribunal, where he condemned “the unlawful, very carefully timed, ill-motivated betrayal of confidence by someone with access to the papers of the tribunal”.

This, he said, led to “an unfounded series of private allegations of corruption” being levelled against the Taoiseach.