This article is from page 1 of the 2006-11-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 1 JPG
CLARE Fine Gael is in crisis this week after Deputy Pat Breen embroiled two of his general election running mates in a libel action against a national newspaper.
With just months to a general election, Deputy Breen has instigated legal proceedings against The Irish Examiner arising from critical comments by Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn and Cllr Joe Carey on his tabling of a Dáil question inquiring into the possible early release of convicted sex offender Joseph Nugent.
Last night Deputy Breen failed to respond to calls from one of Nugent’s victims to apologise for tabling the question.
The man, who is now 47-years-old, confirmed he was admitted to hospital because of the stress brought on by the publicity surrounding Mr. Breen’s Dail question.
The Irish Examiner has been told by Deputy Breen’s solicitor, Gearoid Howard, that the article “constitutes a most grievous libel of Mr Breen and that there are no circumstances under which the question tabled by Mr Breen could have constituted a representation on behalf of a paedophile”.
Deputy Breen is now seeking a withdrawal of the alleged libel, an apology, damages and payment of his legal costs.
And in a move that will further throw Fine Gael’s already fraught general election campaign into disarray, Deputy Breen has indicated that he may sue Cllr Taylor Quinn and Cllr Carey as part of his legal case.
Deputy Breen wants The Irish Examiner to set out the basis for their article “in the event that legal proceedings are necessary” and that the “necessary wrong-doers” are identified “so that they may be all sued in the one set of proceedings”.
The sources quoted in the article that are critical of Deputy Breen are Cllr Taylor Quinn and Cllr Carey.
When contacted by The Clare People last evening, both councillors said they had no contact from anyone in relation to the matter and had not received any solicitor’s letter to date.
The paper also attempted to contact Deputy Breen but was unable to get a response.
Calls to party leader Enda Kenny also proved fruitless.