A war of words has broken out over the extent of the involvement of former tánaiste Michael McDowell in Libertas, the group campaigning against the Lisbon Treaty.
Specifically, the row centres on his alleged possible attendance at a Libertas strategy meeting held at the Galway home of its founder, the businessman Declan Ganley, on Saturday.
Also in dispute is the claim that Mr McDowell offered Libertas ongoing legal advice about other aspects of the treaty, on a pro bono basis (forgoing fees), on the condition that it was done on an anonymous basis.
The Irish Times understands Mr McDowell has categorically denied this and maintains he confined his role to giving paid legal advice, with another senior counsel, on a High Court challenge and also on a complaint Libertas wanted to make to the Standards in Public Offices Commission about a Government-backed pro-Lisbon website.
With regard to the controversy regarding an invitation to the Libertas meeting in Galway, it is believed Mr McDowell understands that Mr Ganley might have casually mentioned a meeting in a telephone conversation earlier this month but he had no recollection of the conversation.
Mr McDowell was not available for comment on the matter yesterday.
However, Libertas's campaign director David Cochrane yesterday contended Mr McDowell had been less than honest in denying last week that he was aware of the meeting. Mr Cochrane said. "Declan [ Ganley] had planned a meeting for Saturday. Michael McDowell had been suggested as one of the people who might be attending though his attendance was never fully confirmed."
In relation to Mr McDowell's denial of any knowledge, Mr Cochrane said: "That is not the case. He was aware of the meeting." Mr Cochrane also said he understood Mr McDowell would give legal advice to Libertas without fees on an anonymous basis.
"The reason for anonymity was obvious. If it was known that a former attorney general and minister for justice were giving us legal advice, the consequences of this becoming known would have been serious."
To bolster its case, Libertas gave The Irish Timessight of an e-mail written by Libertas's executive director, Naoise Nunn. It refers to a purported conversation on January 15th where the former tánaiste said he "was available to us for advice and support - though obviously not publicly".
It states: "He [Mr McDowell] also suggested that we get a friendly British MP . . . to table a [ parliamentary question] to the prime minister as to the scenarios that were considered when the UK was negotiating its opt-out from the Charter on Fundamental Rights."
In the e-mail Mr Nunn himself suggests that that could result in a "list of potential 'horror stories' which could then be thrown at the Government".
Mr Ganley, asked on TV3's The Political Party yesterday if Mr McDowell was supposed to attend the meeting, said: "I'm not going to get into confirming or denying whether he was supposed to attend. That's a question you need to ask him."
