Madam, - I was one of those interviewed for the TG4 programme Uachtaráinscreened last Wednesday, May 16th.
The interview, which took place in my house, dealt with President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh. For the purpose of the interview I referred to an entry in my diaries (published by Hamish Hamilton in 2001) for February 3rd, 1977, which dealt with a dinner in my house with Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh after he had resigned from the presidency. Present were the late Ernest Wood SC, Monk Gibbon, poet and writer, and the then US ambassador to Ireland, Walter Curley. The following is taken direct from this diary insert:
"After I had notified the Government," Cearbhall continued, "of my intention to resign, I was called that night to the telephone in Áras an Uachtaráin. The Taoiseach asked me would I reconsider my resignation. I said it was too late. Suddenly the conversation stopped. I said, 'Are you still there?' He replied, 'Yes. But I'm looking for change to put in the phone.' He was calling from a call-box.
"Later that night I notified the Cabinet of my resignation."
Though I conveyed this in the course of the interview it was not used on the programme. I had made it clear to the producers that I checked some years later with Liam Cosgrave and he confirmed that he had made the phone call from a coin-box in the Incorporated Law Society premises where he had been attending a dinner.
The omission of this episode from the programme was done without consultation with me, or my permission. I think it was an unfortunate decision because it casts further light on the reasons for Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh's resignation. - Yours, etc,
ULICK O'CONNOR, Fairfield Park, Rathgar, Dublin 6.