Molloy says nothing 'sinister or dishonest' in his actions

Former minister of state Mr Robert Molloy said this evening there was nothing "sinister or dishonest" in his actions over the Naughton case.

Speaking to the Dáil this evening, Mr Molloy stuck to his conviction that he never made any representations on behalf of Ms Anne Naughton.

He said his contact with the presiding judge in the case was "unintended and accidental" and there had been no underhand motive.

Mr Molloy resigned his post last week after it emerged that Mr Justice Philip O'Sullivan had received a phone call from an official in Mr Molloy's office in relation to the rape case of Ms Naughton's brother.

The Minister for Justice, Mr O’Donoghue, who was also accused of telling lies about his involvement in the affair, last week released a number of letters he says were exchanged between his department and Mr Molloy in relation to the case.

Mr Molloy said he had no personal contact with the Minister for Justice over the matter and said the minister's conduct had been above reproach.

"No fair-minded reading of the letters I sent suggests that I ever tried to influence the Minister for Justice to adopt any course in relation to Patrick Naughton or his prosecution," said Mr Molloy.

He denied he had ever sought to secure the release of Patrick Naughton

"I made no such request in any shape or form nor did I pretend to Anne Naughton that I was doing so."

He said Ms Naughton had inquired of him whether her brother had to remain in prison while waiting for an appeal and when the case would be finalised.

"In relaying her questions to the Minister for Justice I was in no way attempting to influence the judicial process or secure Mr Naughton's release," he said.

Mr O'Donoghue told the Dáil he had never done anything either "by commission or omission to interfere in the relationship between the executive and the judiciary".

He criticised those in the Opposition who had suggested otherwise.

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.