HIGGINS UNDER PRESSURE OVER FLIGHT

PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins is facing calls to clarify his claim that he was forced to use the Government’s Learjet to travel to Belfast for “security reasons”.

During a televised debate last Wednesday, Mr Higgins said he flew to Belfast, while his car was driven to an airport in the city to pick him up, due to security advice he received.

He subsequently told the Irish Independent on the campaign trail that the PSNI was not able to provide security for his trip to Belfast.

However, the BBC last night reported comments from PSNI sources who dismissed the President’s public comment. “It would be inconceivable that the President of Ireland would not have been afforded security if it had been requested,” a PSNI source told the BBC.

Another source told the BBC there was anger within the PSNI at the suggestion that it did not have sufficient resources to escort Mr Higgins from the border to Belfast.

Responding to the BBC story, the President’s spokesperson said for “logistical reasons and on security advice” the President flew by Government jet to Belfast in May to deliver the Harri Holkeri lecture.

“The President has made many visits to Northern Ireland by car and is grateful for the support received from the security services. It would not be appropriate to further comment on the detail of security arrangements,” he added.

The spokesman refused to say who provided the security advice.

In a statement issued last night, Sinn Fein presidential candidate Liadh Ni Riada called on Mr Higgins to “come clean” on his reasons for travelling to Belfast on the jet.

“It is clear now that Michael D Higgins’s claim has caused considerable anger within the PSNI. Michael D Higgins must make a public statement on this matter immediately. This is very serious. He must come clean.”

The cost of flying the Learjet is estimated by the Dept of Defence to be €3,780 per hour.