Callely blames turmoil in personal life for clocking up hefty expenses

THE Ivor Callely expenses saga took an extraordinary twist last night as the senator blamed turmoil in his personal life for the size of his travel claims.

After resigning from Fianna Fáil, Mr Callely pleaded for greater understanding over the €81,015 allowances he billed the taxpayer for regarding journeys to and from his holiday home in west Cork.

The North Dublin-based Mr Callely said he had felt “rejected” after losing his Dáil seat in the capital in 2007 and preferred to stay in Cork.

“I had to get treatment. Yes, my family would say it was depression I sank into. I am not trying to throw up a smokescreen.

“To be rejected like that it had a terrible impact on me,” he told a Sunday newspaper.

Despite Mr Callely’s North Dublin residence being listed as his primary home, the senator insists he has done nothing wrong.

The issue has become a particular embarrassment for Fianna Fáil and senior party figures were relieved Mr Callely finally quit the party after a week of trying to “tough it out”.

Mr Callely admitted that a personal statement he gave to the seanad on the expenses matter was inadequate.

He said he was not looking for sympathy by bringing his emotional problems into the open, but offering it as an explanation for why he claimed for the 370km journey between Leinster House and his family holiday home in Kilcrohane, west Cork, rather than his North Dublin residence.

Mr Callely’s expenses are now under investigation by the Seanad’s members’ interests committee, but their only sanction if any wrong-doing is found, is to recommend suspension for 30 days from the upper house.

Eamon Gilmore wants Brian Cowen to act “decisively” and remove Mr Callely from the Seanad. As an unelected member of the upper house appointed by Bertie Ahern, the labour leader insists the Taoiseach should put pressure on him to go.

Fellow Senator Larry Butler also resigned from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party over the weekend after his expenses claims were highlighted.

Despite listing his home as Foxrock, Dublin, Mr Butler claimed travel and accommodation allowances from an address in Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny. Mr Butler said the Co Kilkenny property

The Seanad probe into Mr Callely’s expenses will begin the week after next as the upper house is on holiday this week.

Seanad chairman Donie Cassidy is currently on a five day visit to Turkey with fellow Oireachtas members to mark the 90th anniversary of the country’s parliament.

FF has asked Senator Ann Ormonde to explain why she claimed some travel expenses from her Waterford holiday home when her main residence is in Dublin.