Callely awarded €17,000 damages over lost earnings
A “delighted” Ivor Callely has been awarded €17,000 damages for a 20-day Seanad ban over his controversial expenses.
After securing the pay-out for docked wages, the Senator claimed he had suffered an abuse of power.
“I don’t think we’ll ever see the likes of it happening again,” said Mr Callely.
The High Court previously quashed the findings of a Seanad inquiry that ruled the politician had misrepresented his normal place of residence when he was paid mileage claims worth €80,000.
Outside Dublin Four Courts the politician, who quit Fianna Fáil last year, said his name has been vindicated.
Senator Callely said he had public support after winning the case and also felt it had clarified the controversy.
The 20-day punishment was handed down by colleagues after they found he misrepresented where he was living – a west Cork holiday home – rather than his former base in Clontarf, north Dublin.
Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill, who overturned the decision and 20-day ban without pay from the upper house, awarded the politician €17,000 for loss of earnings.
The judge ruled the politician should not have been banned from the Seanad following an inquiry because he was not given the chance to defend himself properly on the political ethics charges.
Senator Callely has claimed he had suffered an abuse of power.
“I’m always very supportive of people who have been unfairly treated by the people, I suppose in authority, and people in a position of power, who feel they can abuse that,” he said.
“I think it’s very wrong when people are wronged in such a fashion and I had to take extraordinary steps to deal with an extraordinary situation and I have been cleared 100% and it’s absolutely brilliant so I’m delighted.”
The Senator’s barristers maintained snakes had been left on his doorstep and that he was forced to leave his son’s graduation early in the fall-out from the Seanad inquiry and subsequent court action.
But the politician revealed he had also received letters, phone calls and emails of support over the scandal.
Senator Callely said he was happy to have the case resolved from “the public’s point of view” as they would now be more familiar with the controversy.
Noel O’Hanrahan told reporters his client was delighted with the clear and comprehensive judgment and claimed the judge had sided fully with Senator Callely’s concerns.
“We are very hopeful that the matter will rest here, his name has been cleared,” said Mr O’Hanrahan outside the court.
“We are hoping that there will be no taxpayers’ money wasted in any further appeals to the Supreme Court or otherwise. His good character has been vindicated.”
The Select Committee on Members’ Interests of Seanad Eireann, headed by Senator Pat Moylan, said it still plans to appeal against the decision to the Supreme Court.
