The following is the full text of a statement released today by Frank Connolly.Frank Connolly
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.
The Centre for Public Inquiry 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 November 26th and 27th, 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 by Independent Newspapers concerning me.
Further, the Minister for Justice, Mr Michael McDowell, participated in the attacks and has now repeated the allegations under Dáil privilege.
The Minister has purported to usurp the functions of An Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions and seeks to destroy my reputation by publicly making charges of a criminal nature against me.
The Minister has sought to interfere with, if not jeopardise, my employment as executive director of the Centre for Public Inquiry.
By disclosing confidential information 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 damage 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 a citizen, who is entitled to the presumption of his innocence and to 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 witch-hunt against me.
He has also done incalculable damage 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.
Signed: Frank Connolly