Liam Lawlor

In what the Irish Independent described as “one of the most sensational days in the House”, Lawlor was released temporarily by the High Court to mount his own defence during an hour-long debate http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=687146&issue_id=6872. Taken into Leinster House in a prison van, Lawlor sat alone at the rear of the Chamber while the five party leaders, in turn, called on him to step down. Instead Lawlor made an aggressive defence of his own position during a 20 minute speech while making no reference at all to the unprecedented joint motion.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said Lawlor had repeatedly let politics down and his position was untenable. Lawlor, he said, had been committed to prison three times and political life was "cheapened" by this. No vote was required as the decision to ask him to resign was unanimous. Lawlor was released by the High Court for about two hours on third day of his 28-day sentence for not co-operating with the Flood Tribunal. As the Dáil sat at 10.30am, Lawlor's legal advisers were petitioning the High Court to allow him make his own case to his fellow TDs. High Court president Justice Joseph Finnegan granted the request but laid down strict conditions on Lawlor's release, saying he was to be taken from Mountjoy to Leinster House, stay for the debate and then be returned to jail. Read Less