Journalist Mr Frank Connolly yesterday rejected absolutely allegations made at the previous day's tribunal hearing that he was a member of an illegal organisation and said such suggestions had the potential to put him and his family in danger. Mr Connolly of the Sunday Business Post said he had never been a member of the INLA or IRSP as alleged and he was outraged at the remarks.
Mr Desmond O'Neill SC, for the tribunal, asked if he was present the previous day to hear an exchange in the course of cross-examination of Mr Dermot Ahern by counsel on behalf of JMSE, Mr Garrett Cooney SC.
Mr Connolly said he was. Mr O'Neill said he would read the transcript from the previous day.
"Mr Cooney [to Mr Ahern]: `Now he also adds that you gave some further details about Mr Connolly. You warned Mr Murphy to be very careful about Connolly as he was a dangerous bastard, those are the words he says you used, and he was a member of the INLA/IRSP.
"Answer by Mr Ahern: `I can't recall saying that.'
"Mr Cooney: `You don't recall saying that, but clearly, if Mr Murphy remembers accurately the earlier part of the conversation about the telephone call of Mr Connolly and about your advice to go to the gardai, it then seems to follow, doesn't it? "Mr Ahern: `I have to say that I don't know for a fact that Mr Connolly is or has been a member of any organisation in that respect. So I doubt very much if I said it but I can't recall saying it.'
"Mr Cooney: `Okay, and then Mr Murphy will say that he asked how did you know this and was he still involved with these groups, and in response you put your hand up and said, not to quote him on this, but there was a lot there in his background and he wasn't sure if he was still involved. Do you remember saying that to him?
"Mr Ahern: `No.'
"Mr Cooney: `Did you have such information about Mr Connolly's background?'
"Mr Ahern: `No, as I have said earlier.'
"Mr Cooney: `Never, ever?'
"Mr Ahern: `No.'
"Mr Cooney: `Never, ever. Didn't know him to be associated with left-wing groups at all?'
"Mr Ahern: `Absolutely not. I only knew him as a journalist."'
Mr O'Neill asked Mr Connolly if, in relation to that exchange, could he indicate to the tribunal whether he was or ever had been a dangerous person or a dangerous bastard as suggested in that exchange.
Mr Connolly replied: "No, my mother is here, I think she would probably take offence to that reference. I would not describe myself and I would not accept such a description. And I said my mother is here and I think she might take offence to that description of me being a bastard."
Mr O'Neill asked if he was or had ever been a member of either the INLA or the IRSP.
"Absolutely not. And it is a disgraceful suggestion," Mr Connolly said. Mr O'Neill asked him to describe briefly for the record what the nature of those organisations was and what he understood them to represent.
Mr Connolly replied: "Well, they are - the INLA, I believe, is an illegal organisation and therefore if I was ever a member of that organisation I presume I would have been convicted of such membership. I have not and have never been a member of either of those organisations."
Mr Connolly said he would like to add something: "I am engaged as a professional journalist for many years and part of my work is covering the conflict in the North. "It means that I regularly travel there. I have contacts with all of the political parties and people in all of the political parties in the North across the political divide, that includes members of unionist parties and loyalist and unionist organisations whom I value as contacts.
"The reference that was made yesterday, that has the potential of putting myself and my family in danger and that was why I was outraged at the remarks that were made and the way in which they were put into evidence," Mr Connolly said.