Dublin - Nach einem Meineid zu Anschuldigungen gegen einen politischen Gegner ist Irlands Verteidigungsminister Willie O’Dea zurückgetreten. Er habe einen »schlimmen und dummen Fehler« gemacht, begründete der seit 2004 amtierende O’Dea am Donnerstag abend im Rundfunksender RTE seine Rücktrittserklärung.

Der Minister habe die Konsequenzen aus dem Wirbel gezogen, die seine Äußerungen über einen politischen Gegner verursacht hätten, sagte ein Regierungssprecher in Dublin. Am Mittwoch hatte O’Dea von der Regierungspartei Fianna Fail noch ein Mißtrauensvotum im irischen Parlament überstanden. Vergangenes Jahr war berichtet worden, O’Dea habe Maurice Quinlivan, einem Stadtverordneten der Sinn-Fein-Partei, vorgeworfen, er sei an einem Bordell beteiligt. O’Dea wies dies jedoch zurück und stritt die Vorwürfe sogar in einer eidesstattlichen Erklärung ab. Daraufhin veröffentlichte ein Journalist eine Tonaufnahme, auf der O’Deas Anschuldigung gegen Quinlivan zu hören war. (AFP/jW)

Presseaussendung von Sean O'Neill, Republican Sinn Féin Limerick:

Media Information From

Sean O’Neill, RSF Community Activist

38 Quinn’s’ Cottages, Prospect, Limerick

Contact: (061) 418425 mobile 086 3360331

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ROLE OF POLICE IN O’DEA FALSE CLAIM MUST BE PROBED

The admission by former Defence Minister Willie O’Dea that the police provided him with information on a political opponent in Limerick is a cause for serious concern, a local community activist said today.

Sean O’Neill from Quinn’s Cottages in Prospect who was a Republican Sinn Fein candidate in the last Limerick City Council elections said the former 26 County Administration Minister still has a lot of explaining to do in relation to his false sworn court statement.

The former Minister publicly stated that the police fed him wrong information in relation to City Councillor Maurice Quinlivan and his role in a city brothel.

The fact that the police would provide information of any kind to a politician in relation to a political opponent must be queried and I am now calling on Deputy O’Dea who is the local TD to clarify the issue.

It is important that the public are made fully aware of the role of the police in relation to providing information to politicians.  The politicians are the political masters of the police and from the evidence now admitted by Deputy O’Dea there are well founded fears that the police are blackening local politicians.

This type of corner boy antics should have no place in a modern democracy where the police must be accountable to the public. I am now calling on the Police Commissioner of the 26 Counties to make public the contacts his force has had with the former Minister in relation to the defaming of an elected member of Limerick City Council.

(Ends)

Issued on Friday 19th February 2010

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

For more information contact Sean O’Neill on (061) 418425

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++