Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I too would like to express my sympathy to the family of the late Mr. Liam Lawlor. I knew him better as a hurler and I had great regard for his abilities in that area. He was always very courteous and nice to me. I have an interest to declare as a director of Independent Newspapers. While today is not a very good day to be a director of Independent Newspapers in this House, Sunday was a worse day. I first heard the news of Mr. Lawlor's death on the BBC World Service to which, as an insomniac, I sometimes listen during the night. That service reported the story substantially as it was later carried by other media outlets. I remember saying at the time "My God, they did not have to drag that in, did they?". When I bought my Sunday newspaper, my blood ran cold.

I will not defend the indefensible. I will not disagree with what has been said by other Senators. A fairly full and unqualified apology has been published in today's Irish Independent. The matter is being taken very seriously. An internal inquiry into the publication of the story is ongoing. First, the story was factually wrong. Second, even if it had been factually right, it was wrong in its treatment in every other way.