Frank Connolly Explained

Frank Connolly is an Irish journalist, author, and communications manager with the trade union SIPTU.^[1]

Connolly grew up in Dublin and attended Trinity College Dublin. He previously worked for the Sunday Business Post, Ireland on Sunday, Village Magazine and Irish Mail on Sunday.

His brother Niall is one of the Irish Republicans arrested in Colombia known as the Colombia Three. He is known for his investigative journalism especially while at the Sunday Business Post, his investigation into planning in Dublin led to the Planning Tribunals.^[2]

Connolly was an executive director in 2005 of the short-lived Centre for Public Inquiry (funded by Chuck Feeney's, Atlantic Philanthropies), which closed following controversy over his alleged trip to Colombia.^[3]

He was accused under Dáil Éireann privilege by Justice Minister Michael McDowell of traveling to Columbia using a false passport with his brother Niall and IRA Chief Padraig Wilson.^[4]

In 2009 he became the head of communications for the trade union SIPTU.^[5]

Connolly retired from SIPTU in February 2024. ^[6]

References

1. Web site: SIPTU Communications Department www.siptu.ie .
2. https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30207906.html Tribunal to rule on Gogarty costs claim
3. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2091-2125436,00.html Sunday Times Ireland – CPI closed down after legal threat
4. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/connolly-says-mcdowell-is-on-a-witch-hunt-1.1185817 Connolly says McDowell is on a 'witch hunt'
5. Web site: Controversial journalist gets plum €80,000 job with SIPTU . 2 June 2009 .
6. Web site: Post Script: Declan Ganley's Rivada email convenience for Gript editor.