Former Fianna Fáil councillor pleads guilty to mortgage fraud

A former Fianna Fáil councillor has been remanded for sentence after he pleaded guilty to six counts of mortgage fraud while working as a financial advisor more than five years ago.

Gary O'Flynn (39) of Hayfield Drive, Castlecourt, Whitechurch, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to the six charges when he was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court this morning.

Mr O'Flynn admitted two charges of making a gain by deception from Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank, by inducing an employee of the bank to pay him commissions of €925 and €1,540.

The commissions were paid to Mr O’Flynn, trading as Flexible Mortgages, in respect of mortgages he obtained for houses that he bought in Wilton and Shanakiel in Cork on January 8th, 2009.

Mr O’Flynn pleaded guilty to two counts of using a false self-assessment tax notice and false sets of accounts in his own name and the name of his legal firm.

The former councillor also pleaded guilty to two further counts of fraud in relation to documents used to obtain the mortgages for €308,000 and €200,000 on the two properties which he bought.

Defence application

Defence counsel Marjorie Farrelly SC applied to have sentencing be adjourned until April 22nd, when Mr O'Flynn is due back in court for sentencing in relation to other matters.

Judge David Riordan granted the application and he remanded Mr O'Flynn to appear again in court on that day for sentencing.

The judge also acceded to an application by Ms Farrelly seeking to direct the governor of Cork Prison to prepare a report on Mr O’Flynn for the court on that date.

Mr O'Flynn served on Cork City Council from autumn 2003, when he was co-opted to replace his father, former Fianna Fáil TD Noel O'Flynn, until he stood down in December 2008.