Corruption charges for ex-councillor

A former Waterford town councillor, who arrived in Ireland for a wedding at the weekend, was arrested and appeared in court today…

A former Waterford town councillor, who arrived in Ireland for a wedding at the weekend, was arrested and appeared in court today on corruption charges.

Fred Forsey Jr (41), a father-of-three with an address supplied at Coolagh Road in Abbeyside, Dungarvan, appeared at the District Court in Waterford city and faced a number of charges under the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2001.

Another man, businessman Michael Ryan (58), of Kilgobnet, Cappa in Dungarvan, also appeared in court in relation to corruption charges. Mr Ryan also has an address at the Sweepstakes, Ballsbridge, in Dublin 4.

Mr Forsey, who has previously worked as a driving instructor in Co Waterford, was accompanied by friends and family in court. The former councillor was co-opted to Dungarvan Town Council as a fine Gael representative in 2003, in order to fill the vacancy that arose as a result of the resignation of Deputy John Deasy at that time. He retired from the council some four years later.

The arrests are part of on-going investigations into corruption in the county.

Det Sgt Shay Keevans gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution of Mr Forsey in Dungarvan yesterday and said that the accused made "no reply" when informed of the charges.

Inspector Paul Heffernan yesterday said he had "fears" that Mr Forsey represented a flight risk as he at present has "no tenancy here". Insp Heffernan told Judge Gerard Haughton that Mr Forsey had been spending some time in Australia and in the UK, while gardai had been looking to make contact with him.

Det Keevans added: "Initially contact was made in Australia and he said he would meet us but he went to the UK without contacting us.

"We contacted him – he had moved to Germany. We got confidential information and arrested him."

Solicitor for Mr Forsey Paddy Gordon said that his client had only arrived in Ireland the day before the wedding and "had intended going in" to meet gardai in Dungarvan shortly thereafter. He denied that his client had been in Germany.

However, Det Keevans said that the accused had been in Germany and that, while he did not attend the wedding in Dungarvan, he had attended the wedding reception in the city.

Both men were granted consent to bail on independent sureties of €20,000 with €1,500 in cash to be lodged.

The men were ordered to not contact any witnesses connected to the case and to inform Gardai of any movement outside of the jurisdiction. Mr Forsey must sign on at the garda station in Clonmel three times per week.

Judge Haughton adjourned the matter to a sitting of the District Court in Clonmel on Tuesday afternoon next.