Callely claimed over €4,000 in false mobile phone expenses, court hears
The sentencing hearing of former junior minister Ivor Callely has heard he made over €4,000 from claiming false mobile phone expenses.
The 56-year-old, with an address at St Lawrence's Road, Clontarf, admits submitting fake invoices at Leinster House to back up the claims for handsets and car kits between 2007 and 2009 while he was a member of the Seanad.
He paid most of the money back in 2010 after a journalist made a freedom of information request about four of his expenses claims.
During a search of his business premises, gardaí found blank paper bearing the letter heads of businesses named in the fake claims.
Following his arrest, the former Fianna Fáil politician said he had submitted the invoices in good faith.
The sentencing hearing has now begun.
