A SEANAD COMMITTEE has won a Supreme Court appeal against a High Court ruling that former senator Ivor Callelly had correctly claimed his expenses.

The Supreme Court voted 4-3 in favour of the Seanad Committee on Members’ Interests, who had concluded that Callelly had misrepresented his normal place of residence.

The appeal came after the High Court found that there was a breach in procedure in the committee’s findings. Callelly was suspended from the Seanad for 20 days, losing around €17,000 in pay.

The Supreme Court set aside the High Court decision, with Chief Justice Susan Denham and Justices Donal O’Donnell, Frank Clarke and Nial Fennelly voting in favour of the Seanad Committee.

A statement from the Seanad says that they will take legal advice on the implications of the ruling.

“We are happy that the law has been clarified in respect of a difficult issue. Seanad Eireann and the Select Committee on Members’ Interests of Seanad Éireann will now be taking legal advice from the Parliamentary Legal Advisor and Counsel on the implications of the detailed judgements.”

Read: Former minister Ivor Callely pleads guilty to false phone expense claim