Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

An article appeared in the Irish Mail on Sunday on 27 September 2009 stating members of the Army Ranger Wing were on the ground in Sudan as part of the Government's efforts to free Ms Commins. On 25 September in response to queries received from a journalist on the previous day, 24 September, representing that newspaper, the journalist was advised specifically, unambiguously and categorically that no members of the Army Ranger Wing were on the ground in Sudan working on any ongoing efforts to free the kidnapped aid worker.

Despite this the newspaper printed an erroneous story on 27 September that there were Army rangers on the ground. Subsequently, when the matter was brought to the newspaper's attention, it issued a correction stating the original error arose due to a misunderstanding. I cannot understand how anyone, even the Irish Mail on Sunday, could misunderstand the simple word "No".

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