Killeen sent two further letters on killer's sentence
The Labour Affairs minister has come under increasing pressure this week after it emerged two attempts were made on his behalf to secure the early release of Cooney in 2003 and 2005.
Cooney was jailed in December 1992 for the brutal and unprovoked murder of Robert Lynch (22) in a Clare pub 18 months earlier.
Mr Lynch's mother again refused to accept Mr Killeen's apology yesterday, but Mr Killeen later insisted that he would not be resigning over the controversy.
Now, a Freedom of Information request reveals that the junior minister's constituency office made an additional two representations on behalf of Cooney in a bid to secure him temporary release over the Christmas period in 2003 and 2004.
Both letters are signed on Minister Killeen's behalf by his constituency secretary, Cllr Pat Daly.
"I am conscious of the enormous level of grief that this has heaped on Mrs Lynch and her family and I don't want to be adding to that by saying anything more at this time," Mr Killeen said.
Local Fine Gael councillor Madeleine Taylor-Quinn yesterday said she was "amazed" at the latest revelations.
"When making representations, it is the responsibility of Oireachtas members to act responsibly and in the public good and in my view in relation to this prisoner, that hasn't happened," she said.
Mr Lynch's mother, Nora, vowed yesterday that she would not let the matter lie. "I'm taking this further. I'm not finished with Mr Killeen yet," she said.
- Gordon Deegan and Jason O'Brien
