Former justice minister Alan Shatter said he has been the target of a vicious and antisemitic smear campaign since Social Democrats justice spokesman Gary Gannon put up a social media post that linked him with Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr Shatter, who was Fine Gael’s justice minister from 2011 to 2014, said he has twice written to Mr Gannon and Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns in the last week seeking the withdrawal of false claims that he met Epstein while in office.

It is understood Mr Shatter is considering taking defamation action against Dublin Central TD Mr ­Gannon.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns declined to comment on the issue on Sunday.

Asked whether Mr Shatter will be receiving an apology from she or Mr Gannon, she told RTÉ's The Week in Politics: "This is potentially a legal matter so I can't comment on this."

Mr Gannon was also contacted for comment

Today on this Indo Daily Extra, Tabitha Monahan is joined by The Sunday Independent’s Mark Tighe, to look at how a misinterpreted document, could now turn into a political and possible legal controversy