I asked for a loan, says ex-councillor

A former Fine Gael councillor told gardaí he asked a property developer for a loan of €70,000 at a time when his marriage was breaking up, his business was failing and he was behind with his mortgage.

Fred Forsey Jr, aged 43, of Coolagh Rd, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, denies receiving €60,000, €10,000 and €10,000 in three corrupt payments from a developer in 2006, alleged to have been made to him for his support for a land rezoning planned by the developer.

Waterford Circuit Court heard yesterday that he swore on his “kids’ lives” to gardaí that the payments were not corrupt and that he was meant to pay them back. None of the money was ever paid back.