Courts / Waterford / Report
Fred Forsey tells court he saw "a lot of stabbings" in prison and "wanted out"
Summary
Fred Forsey Jnr, a former Fine Gael councillor aged 45, was convicted in 2012 of receiving €80,000 in corrupt payments while serving as a Dungarvan town councillor. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, by Judge Gerard Griffin in Waterford Circuit Criminal Court. In October 2014, his counsel, Remy Farrell SC, applied for an extension of time to appeal both the conviction and the sentence. Farrell argued that the prosecution's case was flawed because the planning permission decision was solely the prerogative of Waterford County Council, not Dungarvan Town Council, and that the trial judge and prosecution may have misdirected jurors regarding legal changes. He also raised a second ground concerning the lack of consideration of these issues during the original trial. The court, presided over by Justice Elizabeth Dunne, Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan and Justice Michael Moriarty, granted a seven‑day extension, allowing Mr Forsey to file his notice of appeal.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Fred Forsey tells court he saw "a lot of stabbings" in prison and "wanted out". Charges or matters: taking monies totalling €80,000 in Waterford Circuit Criminal Court two years ago and sentenced to six years in prison with the final two suspended. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- July 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 2006 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2014-10-20 Publication
Why: Mr Farrell said the prosecution's case against his client was fundamentally flawed because the decision to grant planning permission, which was what the original case was all about, was solely in the gift of Waterford County Council but Mr Forsey was a Dungarvan Town Councillor at the time. Prosecution account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: taking monies totalling €80,000 in Waterford Circuit Criminal Court two years ago and sentenced to six years in prison with the final two suspended (Proven)
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Fred Forsey Jnr (45) was found guilty of taking monies totalling €80,000 in Waterford Circuit Criminal Court two years ago and sentenced to six years in prison with the final two suspended. In June 2012 Forsey was sentenced to six years with two years suspended by Judge Gerard Griffin, having been found guilty by a Waterford Circuit Criminal Court jury of six counts of receiving corrupt payments between August and December 2006.
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