O'Dea feels 'vindicated' after campaigning for release

BRITAIN: AFTER BEING "immersed" in the case in recent years, Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea said he felt personally vindicated yesterday after Barry George was cleared of the murder of British television presenter Jill Dando.

The popular broadcaster was shot dead at the door of her west London home in 1999 and in 2001 Mr George was convicted of her murder.

Mr O'Dea had been campaigning on behalf of Mr George's uncle, Michael Bourke, who is from Ballyneety in Co Limerick, and Mr O'Dea revealed he had contacted the Home Office in Britain on "a number of occasions" in recent years in relation to an examination of the case.

"I was also struck by the fact there was a huge demand in the UK for somebody's head and elements of the tabloid media there were whipping up a frenzy. The pressure on the police must have been enormous," said Mr O'Dea.

When asked if it was appropriate for a Cabinet member to comment on yesterday's judgment at the Old Bailey, Mr O'Dea said he had been supporting the family even before he was appointed a senior Minister in 2004.

"The media had asked me to comment and I have commented on the case . . . my views have not changed. I feel vindicated."

Mr O'Dea, a qualified barrister, said he had not been aware of the case prior to being informed about it by Mr Bourke following the conviction in 2001.

Mr O'Dea remarked that he subsequently "got immersed" in the case and his spokeswoman said a number of his contacts in Britain investigated the conviction on his behalf.

He said he wrote to the Home Office requesting officials to examine the conviction as Mr O'Dea felt it was unsafe.

Mr George's acquittal "will come as a great relief to his family and their many friends in my Limerick constituency", said Mr O'Dea.

"They and I have believed for many years that his conviction was a travesty of justice. Today's verdict is a vindication for everyone, including me, who believed that the wrong man had been convicted."

Mr O'Dea said he believed Mr George's mother was originally from Limerick, but Mr George had never lived in Limerick himself.

"The important thing now for the family and friends of Jill Dando is that the investigation be reopened and the person actually responsible for her murder be found."

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times