1 July 1998

'TOP NOTCH' LAWYERS EXAMINE ATTACK ON DEPUTY'S INTEGRITY

BY TOM KELLY

MAYO Dail Deputy Beverley Cooper Flynn last night confirmed she was considering taking legal action against RTE 'for blackening her name on the basis of secret sources.'

The Castlebar -based T.D. said she had appointed a leading Irish firm of lawyers to examine the 'unjust and unfair' allegations made against her 'personally and professionally' dating back to 1993 when she was employed by National Irish Bank.

She revealed a decision would be made over the coming days in regard to issuing defamatory writs on members of RTE's news staff.

Sources close to the deputy stated she was remaining 'upbeat' despite the pressures placed on her by the RTE witch-hunt.

The facts of the case are that RTE made 'extremely serious allegations' about her which have been condemned by Ms. Cooper Flynn as 'lies.'

She stated: "RTE broadcast those lies to the Irish public. The station neither has the courage nor decency to admit this.

"I still do not know who is making allegations against me. RTE continue to refuse to tell me. All I know is that one of RTE's anonymous sources was a man I never met and with whom I have never had any dealings. Yet RTE continue to rely upon persons whom they refuse to identify.

"To ask a public representative to respond to whispering allegations made by people hiding behind a screen of anonymity is unfair, unjust and cannot be supported in a democracy."

Ms. Cooper Flynn called on RTE to confirm that a Mr. James Howard was the person who appeared on the RTE new report and to withdraw the allegations made about her 'with the same prominence as the original report.'

"I again call on them to do so. Given the prominence of the allegations made by RTE against me and the damage and hurt they have caused me and my family, this is the least they can do.

"In the absence of a straight forward reply, the Irish public and I will continue to wonder about what RTE are hiding and why."

A fresh development in the controversy is expected to unfold before the end of the week. It is understood this could involve Mr. Howard making a new statement which could vindicate the Mayo Deputy.

Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - July 1998