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Leading Irish politician arrested in expenses fraud investigation

Ivor Callely still in custody after police raid

By
PATRICK COUNIHAN,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Thursday, January 26, 2012, 7:34 AM
Updated Thursday, January 26, 2012, 10:21 AM

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Ivor Callely former Fianna Fail senator
Ivor Callely former Fianna Fail senator
Photo by Google Images


Former Government Minister Ivor Callely faces up to 10 years in jail after he was arrested on fraud charges.

Fianna Fail politician Callely remained in custody on Thursday after he was detained close to his home in the north Dublin suburb of Clontarf.

A former deputy and senator, Callely is being questioned by police as part of a criminal investigation into allegations that he fraudulently claimed expenses for mobile phones on falsified receipts.

Callely, now 53, was a serving deputy and a Minister for State when it is alleged he made the false telephone expenses claims with receipts from a company that had gone out of business.

A close friend of former Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, Callely was arrested on suspicion of alleged breaches of a section of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act, which prohibits the commission of fraud using ‘false instruments’.

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The Irish Times reports that if an offence of using false or fraudulent paperwork, known under law as a ‘false instrument’, were proven, it would carry a sanction on conviction of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
 
The operation had been planned by police who searched Callely’s home and nearby offices.

Officers have questioned Callely about receipts he lodged with the parliament over a number of years to support claims for mobile phones and telephone car kits over a number of years totalling almost $5,000.

Newspaper reports recently claimed that the receipts were from a company which had ceased trading years before the dates on which Callely claimed he availed of its services.

The expenses related to a period between 2002 and 2006 but the company had ceased trading in 1994.

​
See more: Irish politics , Irish Government , Ivor Callely , Irish Crime , News from Ireland
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6 Comments

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irishcoffeekid | Jan 27, 2012, 01:33 PM EST
JUST ONE? Shouldnt that read LEADING IRISH POLITICIANS - arrest the whole lot of them - they're all gangsters!! They could teach the mob a trick or two!!!

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dibble2008 | Jan 27, 2012, 04:46 AM EST
He is corrupt to the core. He should be stripped of his assets. This so called politician is an example of all that is rotten in irish Politics. Is it any surprise he is part of the Fianna Fail party. The party who singlehandedly brought the country to its knees by collective corruption and incompetance.

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merefalow | Jan 26, 2012, 07:58 PM EST
dishonest politico,bl..dy hell,that,s unusual.

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bunkerisland | Jan 26, 2012, 12:20 PM EST
The on-going theft of such modest amounts appears to be carried out by an obsessive thief. Who would devote so much time to stealing such modest amounts over that extended period of time? Better look more deeply at this fellow who seems more a pretty boy that spends lots of time in front of the mirror. May his immediate family not find other indiscretions.

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gobdawpaddy | Jan 26, 2012, 11:19 AM EST
Finally, Irish police are taking a serious look at allegations against fianna fail politicians. Roll on the Mahon report hopefully resulting in a few more of them being taken into custody. Mahon has being dragging on for sixteen years, I sometimes wonder if there's a hope that the people being investigated will die of natural causes before the report is published.

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ballindaggin | Jan 26, 2012, 10:54 AM EST
Just being a friend of Bertie is enough to be locked up

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