Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Paul Kehoe TD Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

Government's chief whip Kehoe confirms: McGuinness attack was me

Paul Kehoe said tweets linking Martin McGuinness to the Northern Bank robbery were not the work of a hacker.

THE GOVERNMENT’S CHIEF Whip Paul Kehoe has confirmed that he personally wrote tweets linking Martin McGuinness to the 2004 Northern Bank robbery.

Asked about the posts which appeared on his @GovChiefWhip account yesterday, Kehoe told TheJournal.ie that his account had not been accessed by anybody else. “It wasn’t hacked or anything like that,” he said.

Fine Gael Wexford deputy Kehoe, who is also a Minister of State in the Department of Defence, first wrote “I wouldn`t trust martin MC Guinness to take my dog for a walk” as the Sinn Féin presidential candidate was interviewed on Newstalk.

Shortly afterwards, he tweeted again suggesting that McGuinness was connected to the robbery of £26.5million sterling from Northern Bank’s Belfast headquarters in 2004.

Kehoe today declined to comment on whether his comments could be treading on legally dangerous ground. He said: “It’s tweeted and that’s that.”

Read more: Twitter attack on Martin McGuinness launched from Chief Whip’s account>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
48 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Symbolism
    Favourite Symbolism
    Report
    May 2nd 2015, 6:05 PM

    I’ll read this later

    507
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Devaney
    Favourite Paddy Devaney
    Report
    May 2nd 2015, 9:44 PM

    √√

    122
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat O' Brien
    Favourite Pat O' Brien
    Report
    May 2nd 2015, 7:14 PM

    Typing…

    117
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute onlybuzzinwitcha
    Favourite onlybuzzinwitcha
    Report
    May 2nd 2015, 7:31 PM

    Or:

    Typing……

    Then

    Last active 19:30

    96
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lolo
    Favourite Lolo
    Report
    May 2nd 2015, 6:27 PM

    This is a pisser offer for me. When you don’t reply instantly upon reading a message and you get bombarded with texts going, your message delivered but you haven’t answered. Are you ok? I’m worried, text me back! Hello? Are you there?

    Jeez wept it has been 10 minutes..chillax :)

    115
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Byyys
    Favourite Byyys
    Report
    May 2nd 2015, 7:01 PM

    What pisses me off is when someone says they didn’t any text message.. even when you get a delivery report and you know they got the message!

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ken McCarthy
    Favourite Ken McCarthy
    Report
    May 2nd 2015, 7:13 PM

    @Lolo

    They’re some intense friends you have there! No offence intended.

    49
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lolo
    Favourite Lolo
    Report
    May 2nd 2015, 7:40 PM

    None taken haha tis true!

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute onlybuzzinwitcha
    Favourite onlybuzzinwitcha
    Report
    May 2nd 2015, 7:29 PM

    Reading this article just made me think about how great my life is and how lucky I am to have it. I’m not one to worry about read/unread texts. I do however worry about missing the bus (no protest pun intended), the rain and if tomorrow’s gonna be a good day.

    Be happy everyone.

    Sorry for being such a sap.

    88
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Glen
    Favourite Glen
    Report
    May 2nd 2015, 6:09 PM

    Or you could just not worry about it by replying later or not at all.

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen
    Favourite Stephen
    Report
    May 2nd 2015, 6:05 PM

    Or you could just reply

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niamhs
    Favourite Niamhs
    Report
    May 2nd 2015, 6:17 PM

    Thanks

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Kavanagh
    Favourite Mary Kavanagh
    Report
    May 2nd 2015, 6:48 PM

    For Android please! Thanks!

    16
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds