Sir, – Quite how did The Irish Times manage to give the impression ("Journalist 'absolutely vindicated' by Smithwick findings", Home News, December 7th) that Toby Harnden had been "vindicated" in the Smithwick report when his evidence was in fact summarily dismissed? Judge Peter Smithwick is very clear that he was not just "disappointed" at Harnden's failure to appear at the tribunal but, to quote Smithwick, "His non-attendance at the tribunal means that it would not be appropriate to attach weight to the allegations contained in his book."
Can the judge be any clearer than this? Why was this not stated in an article which quotes Harnden at length? – Yours, etc,
PAUL LARKIN,
An Charraig,
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Gaoth Dobhair,
Co Dún na nGall.