Callely denied early release to avoid media attention, court hears
Former Junior Minister Ivor Callely claims he is being kept in jail unfairly over fears his early release would attract unwanted media attention.
The 56-year-old former politician of St Lawrence’s Road, Clontarf in Dublin was sentenced last July to five months in prison for making bogus mobile phone expenses claims.
Ivor Callely's lawyers claim he is being punished on the double for being a politician.
They say it is one of the reasons he received a five-month custodial sentence and now it is being used to keep him in Wheatfield Prison.
The High Court heard his request for one-third remission has gone unanswered and that the Justice Minister has found him unsuitable for temporary release.
Minister Frances FitzGerald based her decision on the view that a breach of trust and abuse of public funds by a member of the Oireachtas must be considered in the most serious terms.
The former Junior Minister has been granted permission to challenge that decision which he claims relates to concerns that his early release would attract "unpalatable" media attention.
