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9 May 2013

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Headline-grabbing Fine Gael TD’s PA makes international news

This week's 'Lucan Gazette'

Fine Gael PA Tommy Morris – like fallen Fianna Fáil keyboard warrior Stephen Kearon – has been a constant source of infantile Internet poison against republicans

 

ANOTHER keyboard bane of republicans has come a cropper after Fine Gael Dáil Parliamentary Assistant Tommy Morris was caught on CCTV last week shovelling up bundles of a local free paper to stop people reading a story critical of his boss, Derek Keating TD.

Now the Garda are looking into the missing newspapers, reckoned to number more than 3,000.

TommyMorrisFGH&SLucan Gazette reporter Paul Hosford tells how Tommy Morris (right) was filmed by security cameras taking “substantial numbers” of his paper from different stores during last Thursday and Friday.

“The paper’s distribution staff believe that over 3,000 copies were taken across Lucan, including the Village, Ballyowen, Hillcrest, Dodsboro and Griffeen Valley,” Hosford says, explaining what tilted Tommy.

“The Lucan Gazette contained a front-page story in which Griffeen Valley Educate Together NS Principal Tomas Ó Dulaing criticised Deputy Keating for claiming to have ‘initiated and led’ the campaign for the extension of the school.”

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Morris’s paper chase has been expressly disowned by his Blueshirt bosses.

Fine Gael General Secretary Tom Curran said the party “condemns in the strongest possible terms the actions of Mr Tommy Morris”, adding cuttingly: “His actions have no place in politics. We are deeply disappointed by these events.”

Derek Keating TD said:

 “Following legal advice, I am now initiating an internal investigation into these allegations. This internal investigation may lead to disciplinary procedures against Mr Morris.

“I wish to be unequivocal that, at no time in this alleged incident, did Mr Morris act with my knowledge or consent.”

Gazette Managing Director Michael McGovern said:

“We will take whatever steps are necessary to protect our brand, the people who read the paper and the people who spend money advertising with us.

“The Gazette is a group of eight papers, with a weekly print-run of more than 40,000 copies. We employ 22 people as well as freelance and agency workers.

“That someone would attempt to jeopardise their livelihoods in these times is particularly shocking.

“We have sought legal advice and reported the matter to the Garda. We are determined to ensure that the person or persons responsible are made accountable.”

Tommy’s stop press bid has even made it into the Media section of Britain’s Guardian daily, edited by Roy Greenslade, as well as Dublin’s Evening Herald.

Derek Keating is quoted as saying: “This publication [the Lucan Gazette] is a free-sheet so there is no question of Tommy breaking the law.” The Garda and Gazette chiefs are obviously not so sure.

❏  Morris – like fallen Fianna Fáil keyboard warrior Stephen Kearon – has been a constant source of infantile Internet poison against republicans. His Twitter name is ‘@marjacem’. Now he’s not so vocal and he has not responded to calls from the Lucan Gazette.

•  Tommy Morris picks up the papers

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