Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould denied permission to address Dáil over his arrest

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy stated that 'any attempt to raise this issue could interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation'

Cork North-Central TD Thomas Gould issued a statement saying: 'The Ceann Chomhairle has declined my request. Therefore I cannot make a personal statement.' 

Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould has been denied permission to address the Dáil over his arrest a week ago as part of a garda fraud investigation.

The Cork North-Central TD had contacted the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy earlier this week to request an opportunity to address his Dáil colleagues following his arrest by gardaí investigating an alleged €150,000 business fraud. 

He was released without charge on March 7, after being questioned for a number of hours.

In a letter to Mr Gould, Ms Murphy said it would be "inappropriate and serve no useful purpose" for him to make a Dáil statement "in circumstances where none of the allegations that give rise to this request have been raised in the Dáil and should not in present circumstances be raised by any member". She added: 

In addition, any attempt to raise this issue could interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation and thus potentially encroach upon the functions of the courts and the administration of justice.

In a statement on Friday evening issued through his solicitor Shane Collins Daly, Mr Gould said: “I requested to make a personal statement in the Dail as I believe in accountability and honesty. I strongly reject the allegation that has been made against me. 

"The Ceann Chomhairle has declined my request. Therefore I cannot make a personal statement.” 

Mr Gould, who is currently undergoing treatment for bowel cancer, is his party’s spokesperson for urban regeneration and renewal, planning, public realm, and local government. 

The party has said that he has its unequivocal support and there are no plans to remove him from the position.

Sinn Féin Cork city councillor Kenneth Collins was named on Saturday night in a statement from Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald as also having been arrested as part of the same probe.

He was questioned in January and was also released without charge. He also rejects any wrongdoing.

A file is now expected to be prepared for the DPP.