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19/07/2010
O'Dea Escapes Prosecution Over Affidavit
The former Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has escaped prosecution over a sworn affidavit he made that led to him leaving the Cabinet.
The Director of Public Prosecutions said today it had decided not to prosecute Mr O'Dea over the sworn statement he made last summer in connection with a High Court case taken by Sinn Féin local election candidate Maurice Quinlivan.
Mr O’Dea yesterday spoke of his relief at the decision there was no criminal case to answer, and that while relieved he was not surprised by the outcome.
He said the allegation was one of perjury, which meant he'd have to have deliberately and knowingly give an untrue version of accounts in an affidavit, and that this was not the case.
During the original court hearing, Mr O'Dea accepted making comments about Mr Quinlivan, which were published in a local newspaper but denied making other unpublished comments, which figured in the court case.
It later transpired that he had in fact made the comments. Mr O'Dea said he forgot making the comments and apologised.
The case centred on unfounded allegations about Mr Quinlivan.
Mr O'Dea said: "The last six months have been pretty tough. I was forced to pay out a lot of money, rightly so perhaps, then I lost my job and then I was subjected to an investigation.
"It has been a very tough period for myself and my family. It's over now and I'm glad of that."
(DW/KMcA)
The Director of Public Prosecutions said today it had decided not to prosecute Mr O'Dea over the sworn statement he made last summer in connection with a High Court case taken by Sinn Féin local election candidate Maurice Quinlivan.
Mr O’Dea yesterday spoke of his relief at the decision there was no criminal case to answer, and that while relieved he was not surprised by the outcome.
He said the allegation was one of perjury, which meant he'd have to have deliberately and knowingly give an untrue version of accounts in an affidavit, and that this was not the case.
During the original court hearing, Mr O'Dea accepted making comments about Mr Quinlivan, which were published in a local newspaper but denied making other unpublished comments, which figured in the court case.
It later transpired that he had in fact made the comments. Mr O'Dea said he forgot making the comments and apologised.
The case centred on unfounded allegations about Mr Quinlivan.
Mr O'Dea said: "The last six months have been pretty tough. I was forced to pay out a lot of money, rightly so perhaps, then I lost my job and then I was subjected to an investigation.
"It has been a very tough period for myself and my family. It's over now and I'm glad of that."
(DW/KMcA)
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