Councillor: I was stupid but I won’t resign

A public representative who defrauded the State by selling contraband cigarettes has refused to resign her seat.

Tara O’Connell, a Labour Party member of a town council, was convicted of selling imported Spanish cigarettes after being caught in an operation by Customs officials.

A Revenue spokeswoman confirmed last night that Ms O’Connell, a 40- year-old mother-of-one, was recently convicted and fined €2,500 in a District Court after being “found guilty of keeping for sale illegal tobacco products”.