THE FORMER minister of state for food and agriculture, Trevor Sargent, has said he will co-operate fully with an investigation into the alleged leaking of letters he wrote to members of the Garda, which led to his resignation earlier this week.
Speaking at a public meeting in his Dublin North constituency last night, Mr Sargent said he did not know how the letters, which he wrote to members of the Garda to intercede in a matter involving a constituent, found their way into the press.
“It would be totally irresponsible for me to make any supposition,’’ he added.
Mr Sargent confirmed he intended to donate his severance package to St Vincent de Paul because he did not expect the money and that it would benefit other people more than himself.
The amount he is likely to receive has not been confirmed, but has been reported to be in the region of €47,000.
‘‘I understand it will be taxed so I don’t know what the sum is going to be exactly but in the manner of charitable donations over €250 the organisation benefiting from the donation can get a rebate on the tax.’’
Dublin North constituents who were attending a public meeting entitled Future-proofing Malahide in Malahide last night were mainly supportive of Mr Sargent.
Matt Ward, who lives in Malahide, said Mr Sargent’s resignation was ‘‘unfortunate”.
‘‘He was trying to do his best I think for somebody and I suppose while it is illegal I think he’s a bit unfortunate to be caught, so somebody must have set out for him. He’s probably right to resign.’’
Meanwhile, Opposition parties have ruled out apologising to Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern for suggesting he was responsible for releasing documents revealing Trevor Sargent’s contact with gardaí about a case involving a constituent.
Mr Ahern has said he hoped “those people who smeared me are man enough to go into the Dáil or indeed outside the Dáil and withdraw their smears”.
However, a Fine Gael spokesman last night insisted this would not happen. A Labour Party spokesman said members of the party had said nothing about Mr Ahern that required an apology.
“Eamon Gilmore raised the same questions everybody around Leinster House was raising on Wednesday. Dermot Ahern has suddenly become very thin-skinned.”