Calelly sent €50 to attend expenses investigation committee

It has emerged this evening that Senator Ivor Calelly was sent a letter ordering him to attend today's committee investigating his expenses - and a cheque for €50 was enclosed to cover his travel to Leinster House.

Mr Calelly expressed his annoyance at the move and declared the cheque would remain uncashed.

Chair of the Seanad Committee on Members' Interests, Senator Pat Moylan, said he was obliged by law to pay Mr Calelly's expenses in attending the meeting.

During the hearing, the Senator called for the procrastination to stop and the investigation of him to conclude.

He also revealed that on three occasions since the probe began, "things" have happened to his family home in the early hours of the morning, where his two sons were studying for exams.

MrCallely also told the committee that his property in west Cork is for sale.

It is his second appearance before the committee which is investigating more than €80,000 in expenses that he claimed in travel and subsistence from the west Cork house while also maintaining a base in Dublin.

In response to a query from Independent Senator Joe O'Toole about whether the sale would result in a capital gains tax, Senator Calelly said if it did he would pay it.