05/10/2010

Callely Court Battle Resumes

The High Court proceedings brought by Senator Ivor Callely against his suspension from the Seanad earlier this year is to resume today.

Mr Callely's law team will be petitioning the court for the disclosure of transcripts of the Seanad Committee's private hearings where his suspension was decided.

However, Lawyers on behalf of the committee claim the documents are privileged and they will not be releasing them.

Senator Callely took the proceedings after being suspended from the Seanad by the committee for 20 days over a case of allegedly fraudulent expense claims.

The Seanad’s Select Committee of Members’ Interests decided that Mr Callely had intentionally misrepresented his normal place of residence as Kilcrohane, Bantry, Co Cork, in order to claim larger allowances.

Senator Callely said he wanted the report into his expense claims to be declared "null and void", while his lawyers claim he hasn’t had a "days peace" since the Seanad Committee on Members Interests found he misrepresented his place of residence.

Senator Callely is asking for paid damages, and to have the outcome of the enquiry dismissed.

(DW)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

10 August 2010
Callely Handed Two Week Deadline
The under-fire Senator, Ivor Callely, has been given 14 days to explain his controversial expense claims by two separate Government committees. The Seanad Committee on Members' Interests and a Fianna Fáil internal committee have announced two investigations into the latest allegations against Mr Callely.
24 August 2010
Callely Given 'More Time To Respond'
Senator Ivor Callely has been granted an extra two weeks to respond to complaints over allegedly fraudulent expenses claims.
23 August 2010
Committee To Decide Over Callely Case
The Seanad Committee on Members' Interests is expected to announce their decision on how to proceed with the expense fraud accusations against Senator Ivor Callely. So far, the senator has paid back almost €3,000 to Leinster House for the mobile telephony receipts between 2002 and 2007 that were found to have been dated after the company's closure.
07 September 2010
Callely Challenges Fraud Claims In Court
Senator Ivor Kelly has effectively stalled a number of investigations into allegations of expense fraud against him by taking his accusers to the high court.
03 June 2010
Callely Case Considered By Expenses Committee
The issue of Fianna Fáil Senator Ivor Callely's expenses is to face close scrutiny at the Seanad Committee on Members' Interests today. Senator Calley's controversial travel expenses claims came to light this week after they were published amongst those of the rest of Ireland's politicians on the Oireachtas website.