Minister of State for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen made four representations for the temporary and early release of a convicted murderer, it has emerged. Liam Reidand Gordon Deeganreport.
The Clare TD indicated yesterday he would stop the practice of making representations on behalf of convicted prisoners and their families. However he said he had no intention of resigning over the affair. "No, not at all," he told The Irish Times. "It was entirely within the political system, which is the way things ought to operate." There was no constitutional implication regarding his actions, he added.
According to Freedom of Information documents, Mr Killeen's office wrote two letters seeking the temporary release of Chris Cooney, who was convicted in 1992 of murdering Rob Lynch in Ennis. These are in addition to two other representations revealed in recent days, where Mr Killeen sought Cooney's early release. The latest letters to emerge were written to the Minister for justice Michael McDowell in 2003 and 2004 and signed by councillor Pat Daly, who is an adviser to Mr Killeen.
Government members moved yesterday to diffuse the controversy. In Co Cork, Mr McDowell said Mr Killeen was "a competent and decent minister" who had taken steps to change procedures at his constituency office.