The Minister for Justice Mr O'Donoghue has issued a statement this afternoon after his Department became embroiled in the row which this morning resulted in the resignation of Minister of State Mr Bobby Molloy.
The statement was issued after it emerged, in a special court sitting, that Mr Justice Philip O'Sullivan had received a phone call from an official in the Department of Justice as well as a call from an official in Mr Molloy's office in relation to the rape case of a Connemara man.
The statement says a Department of Justice courts official phoned Mr Justice O'Sullivan to confirm his telephone number on foot of a query from Mr Molloy's office. The courts official was not aware of the nature of the court case when making the request, the statement says.
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The courts official asked the judge for his home number when he was told the judge would be leaving his chambers in 20 minutes. But Mr Justice O'Sullivan declined to give him the number indicating he would not be prepared to take a call at home.
This appears to clarify confusion yesterday when Mr Molloy said that, while his official had contacted the judge, she did not make an inquiry as to whether he could be contacted at home.
In the Central Criminal Court yesterday, Mr Justice O'Sullivan said he had had "a totally improper approach" on March 19th about a letter written by the sister of a man convicted of rape.
Mr Molloy says he was acting on behalf of the woman - a constituent - who wanted to know if the judge had received a letter concerning the case.
Mr Molloy announced his resignation this morning and said he would not be running in the upcoming General Election.
The accused in the rape case - Patrick Naughton (49) - was jailed for 11 years for raping and buggering his daughter from 1987 to 1993 and again in 1997.
