McDowell under fire for handling of corruption claims
Michael McDowell has today defended his handling of corruption allegations against gardaí in Co Donegal during his time as both Attorney General and Minister for Justice.
Speaking in the Dáil this morning, Minister McDowell revealed some of his legal advisers concluded serious problems had been occurring after receiving the Carty Report into the matter in early 2002.
He said he decided to advise against a tribunal into the corruption allegations because criminal proceedings were underway.
However, Labour Party TD Joe Costello rejected this explanation, saying the Morris Tribunal had eventually been set up while criminal cases were ongoing.
"There's been criminal prosecutions in relation to this matter for the last eight years and there's still criminal prosecutions pending and we have the tribunal of inquiry at the present time, so that's no excuse," he said.
