Callely returned for trial on phone expense claims charge

Former Fianna Fáil minister of state Ivor Callely has been returned for trial accused of making a series of bogus mobile phone expense claims when he was a member of Seanad.

A book of evidence was served on Mr Callely by a fraud squad detective at Dublin District Court yesterday morning.

Mr Callely is to be tried on indictment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Ann Ryan directed during the brief proceedings.

He was sent forward for trial on six counts of making false expense claims and is scheduled to face his next hearing on May 15.

He is accused of using six invoices, from three phone companies, as false instruments at Leinster House for receipt of expenses for handsets and equipment, under the Oireachtas members direct purchase mobile phone scheme in Nov 2007, Feb 2008, and from September to December in 2009.

Mr Callely, aged 54, had been arrested by fraud squad detectives at his office at Howth Rd, in Killester, in north Dublin at 9.50am last Friday and was then taken to Clontarf Garda Station.

Hours after his arrest he appeared at Dublin District Court on Apr 19 last where Det Adrian Kelly of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation said that Mr Callely faced six counts under section 26 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.

Mr Callely, who lives at St Lawrence Rd, Contarf, Dublin, had made no reply when the first charge was put to him at Clontarf Garda Station; the fraud squad officer had also said that: “There was no reply to any of the charges.”

Yesterday he appeared again at Dublin District Court where a book of evidence was served on him.

State solicitor Ronan O’Brien told Judge Ryan the DPP had consented to Mr Callely being sent forward for trial at the present term of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and that the ex-senator was to be remanded on nominal bail in his own bond of €250.

Judge Ryan then gave him the standard warning that if he intended to rely on an alibi in his defence he must notify the prosecution and provide them with the relevant details within 14 days.

“Is there an application for legal aid?”

“Not today, judge,” defence counsel John Foran replied.

Mr Callely then took up bail and left the courtroom with his book of evidence.