Councillor jailed - Politician’s sentence is justified

RARELY in Ireland do politicians end up behind bars for fraud or corruption.

Disgraced ex-minister Ray Burke was sentenced to six months in Arbour Hill Prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to tax offences.

Former TD, the late Liam Lawlor, was imprisoned in Mountjoy on three occasions for a total of six weeks for contempt of court arising from Orders of the High Court requiring him to co-operate with the Planning Tribunal.

In the latest incident, former Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Fahy from Ardrahan, has been given a 12-month sentence and fined €75,000 at Galway Circuit Criminal Court for the misappropriation of council funds. Now an independent member of Galway County Council, not only did the councillor abuse his position, to quote Judge Raymond Groarke, bringing disgrace on himself and his family, he also insulted and sullied the reputations of hundreds of councillors who carry out their work honestly. Nefarious politicians who put private gain before public service deserve to be jailed.