Magill allegations on Harney 'character assassination', say PDs

Progressive Democrats (PDs) leader Ms Mary Harney has vigorously defended herself against allegations in Magill magazine that…

Progressive Democrats (PDs) leader Ms Mary Harney has vigorously defended herself against allegations in Magillmagazine that claim she is implicated in a Co Dublin planning scandal.

Party president Mr Michael McDowell described the article as a "character assassination" designed to bring both the PDs and Ms Harney, down.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, Ms Harney, who is suing Magillfor libel, said although people were free to question her political judgement if they wished, it was unacceptable for anyone to suggest that she was involved in political corruption.

"People may criticise my political decisions or how I vote but what they will not do is ever suggest, ever, ever suggest that I was involved in political corruption in any way," Ms Harney said.

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"I will defend my name to the end in that regard. A suggestion that has been traded around this city for the past three years to suggest that I was involved in some way in political corruption - that is untrue".

During the press conference, Mr McDowell took a copy of the magazine and threw it in the bin.

"This magazine has engaged in deliberate character assassination, it has engaged in a deliberate professional foul," he said. "This story has the appearance of having low-life sources for the slur that it contains.

"Is this the kind of rubbish that you want to appear posing as Ireland's current affairs monthly?"

He also thanked Mr Justice Feargus Flood for intervening yesterday and publicly indicating Ms Harney had not been asked to produce records or documents for its investigations, as the magazine had alleged.

"The Flood tribunal took the very unusual step of confirming the Vincent and Beatty solicitors, acting on behalf of Mary Harney, that this particular story was neither true in form or substance," Mr McDowell said.