The Bauld McDowell
It’s a good thing I wore a long-sleeve shirt this morning, because now I can role my sleeves up. Michael McDowell is in hot water again but you just get the feeling he’ll ride it out and continue to abuse his power. His latest crusade has been directed against the newly-established Centre for Public Inquiry, and more accurately, against journalist Frank Connolly. Connolly has been one of the most prolific journalists in Ireland and has been credited with uncovering stories which have led to the establishment of the Morris and the planning tribunals. His Centre for Public Inquiry has former head of the planning tribunal, Justice Fergus Flood, as its chairman.
There can be no doubt that the Centre for Public Inquiry’s intention was to be a thorn in the side of those in power, to hold them accountable and to uncover stories that are in the public interest. What is so dangerous about this? Shouldn’t all ‘healthy’ democracies have such bodies? Apparently McDowell doesn’t think so. He’s claiming that this body are subversive and could gravely undermine the authority of the state. So prove it Michael. Surely Frank Connolly is entitled to due process and the opportunity to state his case? Instead, he has been subjected to a trial by media which is becoming a commonplace occurrence in this country.
The nail in the coffin came when US billionaire Chuck Feeney’s organisation, ‘Atlantic Philanthropies’, withdrew €4 million euro of funding which it had previously promised. McDowell reckoned it was his duty to the state to inform Mr. Feeney that Frank Connolly had travelled on a false passport to Colombia in 2001 for subversive purposes. The proof? A photocopy of a false passport application. That’s all. Justice Flood has stated that he intends asking Mr. Feeney to reverse his decision but this eventuality is unlikely. Frank Connolly cannot take action against McDowell due to Dail privileges, but it may be possible for him to take action on breach of privacy grounds. I, for one, hope he does because it's high time someone seriously challeneged our Minister for Justice.
Published by Colm.
There can be no doubt that the Centre for Public Inquiry’s intention was to be a thorn in the side of those in power, to hold them accountable and to uncover stories that are in the public interest. What is so dangerous about this? Shouldn’t all ‘healthy’ democracies have such bodies? Apparently McDowell doesn’t think so. He’s claiming that this body are subversive and could gravely undermine the authority of the state. So prove it Michael. Surely Frank Connolly is entitled to due process and the opportunity to state his case? Instead, he has been subjected to a trial by media which is becoming a commonplace occurrence in this country.
The nail in the coffin came when US billionaire Chuck Feeney’s organisation, ‘Atlantic Philanthropies’, withdrew €4 million euro of funding which it had previously promised. McDowell reckoned it was his duty to the state to inform Mr. Feeney that Frank Connolly had travelled on a false passport to Colombia in 2001 for subversive purposes. The proof? A photocopy of a false passport application. That’s all. Justice Flood has stated that he intends asking Mr. Feeney to reverse his decision but this eventuality is unlikely. Frank Connolly cannot take action against McDowell due to Dail privileges, but it may be possible for him to take action on breach of privacy grounds. I, for one, hope he does because it's high time someone seriously challeneged our Minister for Justice.
Published by Colm.
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