Gardaí to probe Callely's expenses claims

Embattled senator Ivor Callely was tonight facing a Garda investigation over allegations he used forged documents to claim expenses.

A parliamentary watchdog which forced the controversial politician’s suspension from the Seanad will also reconvene to examine fresh revelations about his allowances.

The latest developments mean Mr Callely will be at the centre of three separate probes into claims he used forged documents to obtain around €3,000 in expenses for mobile phones.

Fianna Fáil has suspended the former junior minister – who was appointed to the Seanad by then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern – pending its own inquiry into the affair.

The Gardaí are expected to investigate reports he allegedly used invoices from a company that had gone out of business to claim mobile phone allowances after Green Party backbencher Paul Gogarty made an official complaint.

The Dublin Mid-West TD said he asked Lucan Garda station, near his constituency office, to investigate because of mounting public anger.

Mr Gogarty handed in two copies of the Mail on Sunday newspaper report detailing the latest allegations.

The outspoken TD also asked the Seanad Members Interests’ Committee to carry out a formal investigation.

An Oireachtas spokesman tonight confirmed the special committee which previously probed Mr Callely’s €81,000 travel and overnight expenses from his holiday home at Kilcrohane, west Cork, would reconvene on August 31.

If it decides to carry out a similar investigation into the fresh controversy, the maximum penalty it can impose is another 20-day suspension.

Fianna Fáil junior minister Conor Lenihan tonight insisted a Garda probe will go ahead and demanded Mr Callely break his silence on the accusations.

“There will be a Garda investigation into these particular allegations and the quicker and swifter that happens the better for all of us,” he said.

Mr Lenihan said as long as the allegations go unanswered they would continue to deeply damage to the entire political system.

“If there is one scintilla of truth to what has come out in the newspapers then I think he has no other alternative but to resign his position,” he said.

“We can not or will not – either as a party or parliamentarians – generally stand over that kind of practice.”

A Garda source suggested the force may await the outcome of the Seanad committee’s findings on the fresh allegations before taking any action.

Mr Callely was suspended from the Seanad last month without pay for 20 days after an inquiry found he intentionally misrepresented where he lived for the purpose of claiming allowances worth €81,000.