Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

It is of some note that the judgment of the Chief Justice states: "Who was involved in making this offer of a "deal" to the plaintiff and how the fulfilment of a promise to drop outstanding charges and ensure early release could have been achieved was never explored or explained in the evidence." I am totally in the dark, as was the Chief Justice when he wrote the judgment, as to precisely what were the implications of that evidence.

In case my earlier remarks carried a different implication, I do not suggest that the then Director of Public Prosecutions was party to such an offer and I would be very surprised if that were the case. This begs the question as to who was behind the making of such an offer.

On Deputy Howlin's first question, I completely endorse and repeat, in the same terms, what the Garda Commissioner said in his letter to Mr. Shortt. Everybody who has heard about these matters shares a sense of revulsion, shock and contrition that servants or agents of the State would behave in such a manner towards a citizen.

In fairness to the lawyers acting for the State in the case, whereas they may not have offered an apology readily, lawyers are normally sent in to defend cases rather that act as Ministers of the State in making apologies. I do not want my comments to reflect in any way on their competence or professionalism. I am sure they were doing as they were asked in a competent and professional manner.

I was in the Deputy's constituency the other day attending the conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors——

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