Ex-minister avoids jail over mobile phone fraud

A seven-month suspended prison sentence and fines of €3,500 were imposed yesterday on former Minister of State Ned O’Keeffe for what the sentencing judge described as breaches of trust by a TD submitting false invoices to claim over €3,700 in mobile phone expenses.

O’Keeffe, 72, of Ballylough, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, was arrested by Detective Sergeant Patrick Lenihan of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation at Togher Garda station in Cork at 9.40am and conveyed to Cork District Court to face five charges contrary to Section 26 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act. He replied, ‘No comment’ when charged.

Inspector Bill Duane said the Director of Public Prosecutions had indicated the case could be dealt with at Cork District Court on a plea of guilty only; if contested the case would go before judge and jury.