Callely happy after €17k award

AFTER being forced to take “extraordinary steps to deal with an extraordinary situation” Ivor Callely was last night insisting a High Court award of almost €17,000 to him for loss of earnings was “something we should all be happy with”.

The senator insisted he had been forced to take “extraordinary steps to deal with extraordinary situation” in taking his successful challenge to a decision by the Seanad Committee on Members’ Interests to suspend him for 20 days for misrepresenting his place of residence for claiming his expenses.

His lawyers said the Seanad Committee decision last year to suspend him had catastrophic effects claiming snakes were placed in his front porch, he had to leave his son’s graduation due to snide remarks and he was subjected to a vitriolic campaign.