The audio tape of an interview between a Limerick Leader journalist and former Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea was made publicly available after a reported query from a Green party source within Leinster House, the Irish Examiner reported Tuesday.
Speaking with the paper Tuesday, Limerick Leader Editor Alan English said there were untrue and “widespread wild rumours going around Leinster House” that he had “destroyed the tape at the request of Willie O’Dea”.
“There were widespread wild rumours going around Leinster House on Wednesday night that I had destroyed the tape at the request of Willie O’Dea, which is completely untrue. I got a call from a Green Party source in Leinster House about this claim. It was also being suggested there was some ulterior reason why we were not putting out the tape.”
Via Irish Examiner
After receiving numerous requests from media outlets last Thursday along with receiving calls from people who alleged that the tape contained other more damaging allegations against the former Defence Minister, he said a decision was ultimately made to release the audio.
“We had to ask ourselves if there was any good reason why we shouldn’t release it because it was being put to me, ‘was there an ulterior reason?’ As I said, having considered the matter again I saw no reason why we should not release the tape,” Mr. English said.
The audio was subsequently published on the papers website and a copy was also sent to RTE for Thursdays News At One. The release is widely believed to have played a major role in O’Dea’s decision to stand down.
O’Dea took the decision later that day to tender his resignation to the Taoiseach.
