26/01/2012

Callely Released Without Charge

Former Fianna Fáil Senator Ivor Callely has been released from Garda custody without charge after facing questions over allegedly fraudulent mobile phone expenses.

Mr Callely was arrested in Dublin at his home in Clontarf on Wednesday afternoon by detectives from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation. He was held for 24 hours before being released on Thursday.

The Bureau had been investigating allegations of false invoices submitted and monies paid to Mr Callely for mobile phone expenses.

The former Senator was taken to Irishtown Garda Station for questioning.

He is being held on suspicion of breaching the Theft and Fraud Offences Act in relation to the use of false instruments.

His house and office were also searched.

A file on the matter will now be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The news comes only a week after legal costs incurred by the former senator to be paid by the State were revealed to come to half a million euro.

Secretary general of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, Kieran Coughlan, said Mr Callely had not yet sent in his legal costs following his successful legal action against the State over a previous suspension, but they were expected to be “as high as €500,000”.

(DW)

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