FF suspends silent Callely in claims row

THE TAOISEACH has suspended Ivor Callely from Fianna Fáil after the embattled senator failed to answer phone calls from a senior party figure looking for an explanation into allegations he forged expense claims.

Mr Callely will be called before a five-person committee of the Fianna Fáil National Executive, which will investigate allegations that he forged invoices to claim almost €3,000 for phone kits when he was junior minister in 2007.

After the allegations were made in a Sunday newspaper, Brian Cowen asked the general secretary of the party, Sean Dorgan, to contact Mr Callely on Monday to explain his side of the story.