Since 2002 false allegations have appeared in certain elements of the media, chiefly those controlled by Independent News and Media, asserting that I had travelled to Colombia using false travel documents. When and where I felt it appropriate I have issued forthright denials of these false and malicious statements.
The campaign of vilification descended to a more vicious level since my appointment as executive director of the Centre for Public Inquiry (CPI). The CPI has been targeted by certain elements in Irish society who are hostile to a body established to carry out independent scrutiny. The centre has produced two well received reports on trim castle and the Corrib gas controversy.
On Saturday Nov 26th last, in what was patently a considered and timed response to the publication of the report on the Corrib gas controversy from those seeking to protect vested interests, the same false allegations were again published in Independent newspapers concerning me.
Further the minister for justice Michael mc Dowell participated in the attacks. The minister has purported to usurp the functions of an Garda Siochana and the Director of Public Prosecutions and seeks to destroy my reputation by publicly making charges of a criminal nature against me, including under Dail privilege.
The minister has sought to interfere with, if not jeopardise, my employment as executive director of the CPI.
By disclosing confidential information as he has admitted from garda files to a member of the board of Atlantic Philanthropies which funds the CPI, which is clearly insufficient to support a prosecution against me, he has intended to damager my reputation and my career as an investigative journalist.
Furthermore confidential documents from a Garda investigation file were copied to independent newspapers to the damage of the citizen who is entitled to the presumption of his innocence and the protection of his good name.
The minister has done a grave injustice and damage to me, he has joined what has become a veritable withchunt against me. He has also done incalculable damaghe to the integrity of his own office.
It is patent to me however that the real target of the venom and mendacity which has been visited upon me is the centre for public inquiry.While it is difficult for me as one citizen of a state to defend myself when my character is attacked by a minister of government and a powerful newspaper group I will always defend my integrity.