A Roscommon county councillor has accused the media of portraying locals as "a community of redneck thugs" in their coverage of last week's gunshot incident at the holiday home of the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell.
Cllr Eugene Murphy (FF) said the reporting of the incident at Mr McDowell's holiday home in Rooskey, Co Roscommon, was "sensationalised to an unacceptable degree".
There was speculation that the shooting at the holiday home close by the River Shannon - which resulted in a broken window - may have been the work of republicans unhappy with Mr McDowell's strong line on Sinn Féin and the IRA.
Mr Murphy said it was "quite possible that a duck may have risen from the lake, flew towards the house, and was fired at by an over-enthusiastic gamesman, with the shot going through the window.
"It may be no more than that and I'm happy with the Garda assertions that this was not linked to any illegal organisation," the councillor added.
"To me it was the case of the duck that got away at the expense of the Justice Minister's window."
Mr Murphy said Mr McDowell would be welcome in Roscommon.
"I know some locals who met him in recent months and they were impressed with his friendliness," the councillor said.
"The people of the general Strokestown and Rooskey areas have never been associated with giving a bad welcome to visitors to the area.
"I would invite people to come to visit the area, and to experience a genuine céad míle fáilte.
"In fact, I would say they would get a céad míle fáilte here that they mightn't get in any other county in Ireland.
"That is why the coverage annoyed me, and local people, so much, because this area is welcoming and friendly.
"I would like to have a positive image portrayed, rather than the negative and damaging one portrayed in recent weeks," Mr Murphy said.