Callely court action continues

Lawyers for Senator Ivor Callely are questioning in the High Court why the Seanad Committee investigating his expenses claims never referred the matter to the DPP.

The former Fianna Fáil senator is looking to quash the committee's findings that he intentionally misrepresented his normal place of residence to claim extra travel expenses.

On the second day of his legal challenge to his 20-day suspension from the Seanad, Senator Callely's legal team today questioned why the Seanad Committee on Members Interests never forwarded their findings to the DPP, in light of comments by Senator Eugene O'Regan that Mr Callely should be prosecuted as a white collar criminal.

Callely's lawyers claim it is because the committee did not believe the senator's actions amounted to a criminal offence and that they knew the DPP would dismiss it for legal nonsense.

In light of this, they have asked why did the committee not clarify the matter when the media descended on Senator Callely and his reputation was "shredded".

Mr Callely contends he adhered to the rules when he submitted his west Cork address rather than the family home in Dublin as his principle residence for the purpose of claiming expenses.