Former Fianna Fáil councillor in Cork returned for trial on fraud charges

A former Fianna Fáil councillor who is facing nine fraud charges in relation to mortgages he worked on while operating as a financial consultant has been returned for trial.

Gary O'Flynn (39) of Hayfield Drive, Castle Court, Whitechurch, Co Cork appeared before Cork District Court charged with nine fraud offences which allegedly occurred in a period between 2008 and 2009.

The former councillor was remanded to Cork Circuit Criminal Court after the State served the book of evidence in the case. The court previously heard that after gardaí arrested Mr O'Flynn he made no reply to the charges.

Mr O'Flynn is charged with three counts of making gain or causing loss by deception contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act from Bank of Ireland Mortgages. It is claimed that Mr O'Flynn obtained commissions of €1,540, €1,000 and €925 on January 8th, 2009, when acting as an agent for his own company, Flexible Mortgages, to obtain the mortgages.

The charges arise from Mr O’Flynn obtaining mortgages for sums of €308,000, €200,000 and €185,000 on three houses in Cork which he owned and sought to re-mortgage.

Mr O’Flynn is also charged with three counts of obtaining services by deception, namely mortgages, contrary to Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act on December 11th 2008.

He is also charged with three offences of using false documents to induce someone to provide him with the mortgages contrary to Section 26 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act.

Defence counsel Emmet Boyle said Mr O'Flynn was eager for the matter to be dealt with quickly and, if possible, before the ongoing session of the Circuit Criminal Court.

Gary O'Flynn took his father Noel's old seat on Cork City Council in 2003 when the dual-mandate ban came into force. He ended his political career five years later with the city council seat going to his brother Ken.