Former Town Councillor to appeal corrupt payments conviction

It has been reported this morning that a former Town Councillor for Dungarvan has moved to appeal his conviction for receiving corrupt payments from a property developer.

According to the

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Mr Forsey was found guilty by a jury at Waterford Circuit Court and sentenced to six years in prison, with the final two suspended, by Judge Gerard Griffin on June 27, 2012.

The Irish Examiner is reporting that the former Fine Gel Councillor moved to appeal his conviction on the grounds that the judge gave a 'very serious misdirection to the jury' on how to deal with the presumption of corruption.

Council for Mr Forsey, Remy Farrell, said that the trial judge erred in allowing the case to proceed when his client, as a Dungarvan Town Councillor, was incapable of granting planning permission.

Counsel for the DPP, Denis Vaughen Buckley said even if the direction was wrong, which Mr Vaughen Buckley did not concede, the evidence against Mr Forsey was overwhelming.

President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice Sean Ryan, said the court would reserve judgement.