Former town councillor sentenced to six years for corruption

Former Fine Gael town councillor Fred Forsey has been sentenced to six years for corruptly receiving payments from a property developer.

Despite his convictions at Waterford Circuit Court last month, the 43-year-old from Coolagh Road, Dungarvan has insisted in court that the €80,000 he received in 2006 was a loan.

Mr Forsey was convicted last month on six counts of receiving corrupt payments from a property developer for lobbying in favour of the proposed rezoning of land near Dungarvan.

His estranged wife Jenny Forsey gave evidence that the then deputy mayor met with a wealthy developer in a pub in Dungarvan in July 2006 and later said "I think I'll get in with him".

The former politician still insists the money was a loan and when asked today if he should not accept the jury verdict he replied: "No, with the greatest respect to the court".

Judge Gerard Griffin noted that these corrupt payments were received at the height of the Celtic Tiger and said he had no doubt if the proposed development had gone ahead, it would now be another ghost estate.

He quoted the Mahon Tribunal, describing political corruption as a "deeply corrosive force", and imposed a six-year sentence with two years suspended.