A Galway County Councillor has been sentenced to 12 months in jail for theft and fraud involving the use of €7,000 of public money to have fencing erected on his farm.
Michael Fahy (56), of Caherduff, Ardrahan, Co Galway, was found guilty of seven charges of theft, fraud and false accounting during a five-day trial at Galway Circuit Court earlier this month.
During his trial, Fahy - formerly a member of Fianna Fáil but now sitting as an Independent - denied he had "lined his pockets" with public money or that he owed the council any money for any work done on his farm under the auspices of a Community Involvement Scheme (CIS).
Michael Fahy leaving Loughrea courthouse after his trial
Fahy denied he had submitted "bogus and concocted" invoices for Byrne Fencing Ltd, in the sum of €7,055, on two separate dates in 2003. The fencing company had been contracted by the council to carry out work under two CISs in the south Galway area in 2001 and 2002.
Ten council officials all gave evidence during the trial refuting a claim by Fahy that they had an agreement with him to carry out fencing on his land in exchange for stone taken by the council from his lands for local Fás schemes.
The jury took two-and-a-half hours' deliberation to find him guilty of all charges.
Judge Raymond Groarke described Fahy as a "determined fraudster" who had lied under oath and who had committed the crimes out of sheer greed.
He sentenced Fahy to 12 months in prison on all seven charges, the sentences to run concurrently, Judge Groarke also and he imposed €25,000 fines on three of the charges, totalling €75,000.
Leave to appeal was refused.