A FORMER Fianna Fail town councillor who claimed expenses for a conference he did not attend was fined €500 yesterday.
Pat Melia drove from Cork to the three-day event in Galway — but returned home the same day after registering.
When quizzed afterwards by fellow councillors, he said a lot of the conference “went over his head”.
The 51-year-old from Macroom, Co Cork was convicted of making a gain by deception on dates between April 13 and 15 last. Macroom District Court heard Melia had lodged an expenses claim totalling €552.26, including €218 for two overnight subsistence payments which he was not entitled to receive.
He was investigated following a complaint and was arrested in May last year when he admitted what he had done to cops.
His solicitor told the court the fraud was not intentional, and claimed Melia had “found it impossible” to get accommodation because the Labour conference was on at the time.
He added: “He considered sleeping in his car but conditions were bad.”
Melia resigned from Fianna Fail last summer but remains an independent councillor.
Judge James McNulty fined him €500 with seven days in prison if he fails to pay.
No comments:
Post a Comment