Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Alan O'Callaghan http://www.clarecoco.ie

Judge says Fianna Fáil councillor 'wriggled like a worm at the end of a hook' and told 'a pack of lies'

Alan O’Callaghan was faced with a fixed charge penalty notice prosecution.

A JUDGE TOLD a court today that a Fianna Fáil councillor “has wriggled like a worm at the end of a hook” and told “a pack of lies” concerning a road prosecution.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Patrick Durcan said that Alan O’Callaghan engaged in “a common scam” and showed nothing but contempt for the system when faced with a fixed charge penalty notice prosecution.

In the case, member of Clare County Council and current cathaoirleach of the Killaloe (east Clare) electoral area, Alan O’Callaghan today changed his plea from not guilty to guilty to making a false nomination of a driver caught speeding.

In evidence, Garda Seamus Gleeson said that after O’Callaghan received the fixed charge for speeding, O’Callaghan notified Gardai that “a Paul Roche from the Republic of Nigeria” was driving his 06 registered BMW X5 jeep when O’Callaghan was accused of speeding on 1 June 2016 at Dough, Lahinch.

Garda Gleeson told the court that O’Callaghan’s nomination attracted the interest of the investigation unit and it found that O’Callaghan was driving the vehicle on the day after producing a blown up photo of O’Callaghan driving.

Gleeson said that he subsequently met with O’Callaghan and showed him the blown up photo to show that he was driving.

A member of the Clare Joint Policing Committee (JPC), O’Callaghan paid the speeding fine but was subsequently charged with making a false nomination.

O’Callaghan’s councillor role was not revealed to the court today and at the outset, O’Callaghan of Rosroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, was contesting the case but then changed his plea to guilty midway through the case.

Driving ban

In the case, Judge Durcan banned O’Callaghan from driving for one year and imposed a €750 fine.

He said that O’Callaghan “has shown nothing but contempt for the system”.

He said: #

Mr O’Callaghan has wriggled like a worm at the end of a hook until basically confronted in this court with the reality.

Judge Durcan said:

“Basically he was engaged in what is becoming a common scam to get out of having to pay and deal with a Fixed Charge Penalty Notice.

Let’s call a spade a spade and forget about shovels. That is what this is all about – ‘nominate a friend from Nigeria and drive off’ – but he was caught.

Judge Durcan told O’Callaghan’s solicitor, Stiofán Fitzpatrick that his client has “told a pack of lies”.

Fitzpatrick said that O’Callaghan’s “friend, Mr Roche was present and using his vehicle at the time. O’Callaghan spoke to his friend and his friend said “I was driving the vehicle on that day” and O’Callaghan filled out the nomination and furnished all relevant details”.

“Honest belief”

Mr Fitzpatrick said:

Mr O’Callaghan’s instruction to me that is this was his honest belief at the time when he filled out the nomination that he wasn’t the driver.

In response, Judge Durcan said that he doesn’t believe a word that Alan O’Callaghan has instructed in relation to the matter.

Judge Durcan said he was “satisfied that he engaged in this scam in regard to the Fixed Charge Penalty Notice system and his approach is nothing short of contemptible”.

Fitzpatrick said that his client drives for a living and has his own fuel delivery business and also operates a pub.

Speaking outside court after the case, a clearly shaken O’Callaghan confirmed that will be appealing to the circuit court.

O’Callaghan said that he “100% absolutely denies” the judge’s comment that he was involved in a scam.

He said he it “hurtful”.

“I felt very hurt to be honest about it. That is that is not the way I am about. That isn’t the way I would be working,” he said.

I never even got penalty points before. I have no other road traffic offence.

O’Callaghan said that it was his honest belief at the time that it was his friend who was driving the jeep. He said that Mr Roche wired him over the money to pay the speeding fine.

O’Callaghan said that Roche was over for 10 days and doing work in Lahinch.

O’Callaghan said that if he loses his driving licence, he will lose his livelihood.

Read: Fugitive murderer who escaped from Derry prison is arrested in Dublin, then released

Read: Mother and son awarded €20,000 after ‘explosion of raw sewage’ in bathroom

View 69 comments
Close
69 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sam Bartell
    Favourite Sam Bartell
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:43 PM

    After a day with my kids, 6 months in a war torn country is actually appealling

    219
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dziadek Uncaged
    Favourite Dziadek Uncaged
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:58 PM

    Boll0x and whys a c rap comment. Try live in Haiti or Syria.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Byrne
    Favourite Mark Byrne
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 7:19 PM

    Why IS a c rap comment?

    60
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute stephen
    Favourite stephen
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 7:53 PM

    A sense of humour is a gift a lot of people lack.

    125
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Glen
    Favourite Glen
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 7:57 PM

    Dziadek
    Could you even attempt understanding humour or are you happy being miserable.

    68
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute gerry campbell
    Favourite gerry campbell
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:47 PM

    Dziaek , get back in that cage.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute stephen
    Favourite stephen
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:47 PM

    I can lick the back of my elbow,if that’s any good to them.

    147
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen
    Favourite Stephen
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:03 PM

    Gender adviser, that’s a bird that’s a bloke!, handy number!!

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Hayes
    Favourite Martin Hayes
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 7:21 PM

    Gender Advisers, is that a counselling service for transvestites?

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute thejynxeffect
    Favourite thejynxeffect
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 8:49 PM

    Ye wtf is a gender advisor? The job titles we create these days

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mcgoo
    Favourite mcgoo
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:42 PM

    I’d say now if you were starving for food/clean water, trying to figure out what sex you were, or should have been, would the last thing on your mind

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute david dickson
    Favourite david dickson
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:40 PM

    We need them down here in East Galway.
    Rspid!!!

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute david dickson
    Favourite david dickson
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:43 PM

    I was too rapid.

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bill Rooney
    Favourite Bill Rooney
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:50 PM

    *rabid

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason D'langer
    Favourite Jason D'langer
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 7:23 PM

    You can apply on jobsbridge.ie apparently

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute trickytrixster
    Favourite trickytrixster
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 8:25 PM

    Now this is what job bridge should be for,like the hunger games for minimum wage jobs

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Sinnott
    Favourite Martin Sinnott
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:29 PM

    We’ll have plenty of water meter installers looking for jobs abroad next year

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Moira Green
    Favourite Moira Green
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 10:16 PM

    It said volunteers.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Gill
    Favourite Shane Gill
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:29 PM

    I assume they pay you?

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Padraig Fitzpatrick
    Favourite Padraig Fitzpatrick
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 11:18 PM

    have a wild guess there, Shane

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aengus In Africa
    Favourite Aengus In Africa
    Report
    Mar 24th 2015, 1:10 PM

    They do pay you, the articles use of the word “volunteer” is misleading.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:40 PM

    Yes I wear a red cape and have the power to tell people what to do, yes I’m a Cardinal lol.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:41 PM

    Do you mean those skills, wouldn’t want a sex workers skills then lol.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Live Long
    Favourite Live Long
    Report
    Mar 24th 2015, 8:38 AM

    Take a pass, why not volunteer for a needy cause in Ireland? Just a thought

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds