Reynolds asked about frequency of UK visits

COUNSEL for Mr Reynolds, Lord Williams, went back over the points Mr Price had made in his cross examination, but only after …

COUNSEL for Mr Reynolds, Lord Williams, went back over the points Mr Price had made in his cross examination, but only after urging Mr Reynolds to keep his answers short and avoid Shakespeare.

He asked him to clarify the connections he had with the UK. Earlier yesterday, Mr Price had said that Mr Reynolds was "much less well known" in the UK than in Ireland.

Lord Williams listed some dozens of radio and television interviews Mr Reynolds had given to the British media.

The judge asked Mr Reynolds if any of these had involved trips to Britain, and he said that they had. Asked how often, he said that he had visited England and Scotland about three times a month since the beginning of the year.

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Lord Williams asked him if he was being awarded a degree of Doctor of Law in Aberdeen University next month. Mr Reynolds agreed that he was. He was also in regular contact, both by phone and in person, with Conservative and Labour politicians, he said.

Lord Williams said it had been suggested that the article in the Sunday Times was a fair and accurate reflection of what Mr Spring had said in the Dail.

"Did he call you a gombeen man?"

"No."

"Did he say you had sullied Ireland's reputation abroad?"

"No."

"Did he say you had damaged, the Catholic Church?"

"No."

"And, most hurtful of all, did he say you gave the unionists a fistful of reasons to avoid being contaminated by the South?"

"No."

Lord Williams also read out a letter Mr Reynolds had written to his solicitors last week, in which he had stated that a number of articles in Irish newspapers had just been drawn to his attention, which he wanted his solicitors to consider. Counsel asked if this statement was true. "Yes", replied Mr Reynolds.

When Lord Williams asked him if he had declared all his business interests to the Dail, he replied that he had. Referring to the Masri passport affair, counsel asked him if Mr Spring had examined the files and found nothing wrong. Mr Reynolds confirmed this was so.

Turning to the beef tribunal, counsel established that evidenced had been given on oath and, that witnesses had been cross examined. He quoted from Mr Justice Hamilton's findings that there was no evidence Mr Reynolds ha known that some of the meat was sourced outside the State. He continued to quote: "If he had been so aware, it is unlikely he would have granted cover."

"Do you think you were justified in feeling vindicated?" "I believe I was", said Mr Reynolds.

Lord Williams further quoted Mr Justice Hamilton as saying there was no evidence Mr Reynolds did not believe he had been acting in the national interest, nor was there any evidence that he had acted from any base or personal motives.

Mr Reynolds reiterated that he felt justified in saying he had been vindicated by the beef tribunal report.