Minister shows contempt for his own office

MICHAEL McDOWELL has acted in an outrageous manner with his allegations against Frank Connolly - allegations that are not only unsubstantiated but also entirely baseless legally.

By leaking confidential garda documents to a sympathetic journalist he has shown utter contempt for the office he holds and for the legal parameters of the State.

The frightening aspect of this is that Mr McDowell took this decision only after the DPP refused to prosecute Mr Connolly due to lack of evidence against him.

So here we have a Justice Minister who, when it suits, feels he can publish allegations against fellow citizens if the legal institutions of the State will not support his view.

Is this not a complete show of contempt for the Justice Minister’s office? And what does it say about the ability of the legal arm of the State to protect its citizens’ rights if ministers can bypass its recommendations when and where they see fit?

If McDowell is allowed get away with this, where does it stop? Is anyone of his choosing open to this form of abuse? The minister should resign for pursuing his own partisan agenda, and not that of serving the State and its citizens.

Chris Ó Rálaigh

St Anne’s Road

Drumcondra

Dublin 9