A second politician has stated publically he did not use his political influence to prevent gardaí investigating the disappearance of Mary Boyle from questioning a suspect.

In a statement issued by his solicitors Sean McEniff said he “emphatically and unconditionally denied he was the politician who allegedly contacted gardaí in Ballyshannon at the time of the disappearance of Mary Boyle.”

The statement from the long-serving Fianna Fáil politician, added: “He has no knowledge of such a call other than what he has heard recently on what was contained in the video ‘Mary Boyle, The Untold Story’.

This documentary about the disappearance of the 6-year-old girl was made by reporter Gemma O’Doherty and published on Youtube.

“Mr Mc Eniff is satisfied the two former gardaí interviewed as part of the video have recently clarified that at the time of the disappearance or in the investigation that followed neither were aware of any such alleged phonecall and that there was no impediment from their superiors in the investigation as a result.”

The solicitors said the statement was being issued at Mr McEniff’s request, “in relation to the rumour and innuendo surrounding a Youtube video published recently on the internet ‘Mary Boyle, The Untold Story’.

Mr McEniff said: “The disappearance of Mary Boyle has been a tragedy for the Boyle family and they are deeply affected by it. The gardaí have conducted detailed and extensive investigations which are continuing and should be co-operated with by all concerned.”

The statement said Mr McEniff supported the establishment of a Commission of Investigation to investigate the girl’s disappearance.

Mr McEniff said in the statement that he has taken legal advice in relation to defamatory comments made both directly and by innuendo and will take such steps as are necessary to protect his reputation.

“Some of the comments and statements that have been made are false, malicious and damaging to Mr McEniff.

“He will not be making any further public statement and the matter will be dealt with through his solicitors.”

Although neither Mr McEniff or any other politician was named on the video, there has been widespread speculation in south Donegal that he was the politician it claimed made a call to a senior garda which resulted in the main suspect not being arrested in six-year-old Mary’s disappearance near her grandparents home at Cashelard, Ballyshannon, 39 years ago.

Earlier this month Fianna Fáil TD Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher issued a statement saying he was not the Fianna Fáil politician alleged to have influenced the investigation into the disappearance of the girl.

Speaking after the documentary was published, one of the gardaí quoted in the video, retired Sgt Martin Collins, said his view was there was neither political or State interference in the inquiry.

He said the phone call comments emanated from the hearsay of a Garda station orderly who would not even have been an investigating officer on the case.

Mr Collins was emphatic there was no cover-up by gardaí of any rank.

Up to 500 people marched in Ballyshannon in Co Donegal on Saturday seeking justice for Mary.

Gardaí carried out an excavation of a site on Friday near where the child was last seen. A Garda ‘cold case' team is also reviewing the case.