The actions of a Fine Gael aide, who attempted to suppress bad news about his TD by destroying copies of a local newspaper, have been condemned by his party.

Tommy Morris, parliamentary assistant to Fine Gael Dublin Mid-West TD Derek Keating, took substantial numbers of the giveaway Lucan Gazette from shops in the area last week and dumped them because of a negative news story about the TD.

Fine Gael general secretary Tom Curran told The Irish Times yesterday that the party was deeply disappointed by Mr Morris’s actions.

“We condemn the actions of Tommy Morris in the strongest possible terms. There is no place in politics for this kind of behaviour. It is truly bizarre,” said Mr Curran.

He added that it was now up to Mr Keating to decide what kind of disciplinary action was appropriate for his employee. Mr Keating and Mr Morris did not respond to calls from The Irish Times yesterday.

Mr Keating was quoted in the Lucan Gazette as saying that he had initiated an internal investigation into what had happened.“Following legal advice, I am now initiating an internal investigation into these allegations. This internal investigation may lead to disciplinary procedures against Mr Morris,” said Mr Keating.“I wish to be unequivocal that, at no time, in this alleged incident, did Mr Morris act with my knowledge or consent,” he added.

The distribution staff at the Lucan Gazette , say that over 3,000 copies of the paper were removed from shops in Lucan, Ballyown, Hillcrest, Dodsboro and Griffeen Valley. The Irish Times Ltd is a majority shareholder in The Gazette Group of newspapers.*

Last week’s edition contained a front-page story in which Griffeen Valley Educate Together national school principal Tomás Ó Dulaing criticised Mr Keating for claiming to have “initiated and led” the campaign for the extension of the school.

Gazette managing director Michael McGovern pledged in this week’s edition that the paper would take whatever steps were necessary to protect its brand, its readers and the people who spend money advertising with it.

Mr McGovern said the newspaper had reported the matter to the Garda.

*This article was amended on May 9th, 2013, to include reference to the relationship between The Irish Times Ltd and the Gazette Group of newspapers.