Ex-FF councillor charged with theft of €1,500

A former Fianna Fáil councillor has been charged with the theft of over € 1,500 following an investigation by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation into his business affairs..

Gary O'Flynn (37), a former member of Cork City Council, appeared at Cork District Court today where he was charge with 22 sample counts of deception from a total of 111 charges contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act.

The state alleges that Mr O’Flynn, a solicitor and financial advisor, obtained by deception, sums ranging from € 40 to € 125 and totalling just over € 1,500, on various dates between October 29th 2009 and August 24th 2012.

Today, Det Garda Michael Horgan told Cork District Court that he met Mr O’Flynn of Hayfield Drive, Castle Court, Whitechurch, Co Cork at the Bridewell Garda Station by arrangement where he charged him with the offences.

Det Garda Horgan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and told the court that Mr O’Flynn replied “Not guilty” when each of the 22 charges was put to him after he was cautioned

Insp Mick McGuire said that the DPP had directed trial on indictment before a judge and jury at circuit court level but said that gardaí had no objection to Mr O’Flynn being released on bail on the charges.

Defence solicitor, Joe Cuddigan said the relatively small sums involved in the charges are regularly dealt with before the District Court but Judge Leo Malone said that he had no jurisdiction in the matter once the DPP has made a ruling about trial by indictment.

Judge Malone remanded Mr O’Flynn, who succeeded his father, former TD, Noel O’Flynn on Cork City Council and served there from 2003 until 2008, on bail to appear in court again on December 18th for service of the book of evidence.