Corruption case of ex-Wicklow council official adjourned

A case in which a former Wicklow county and town council official is facing charges of corruption has been adjourned at Wicklow Circuit Court.

Frank O’Toole (63), with an address in Wicklow town, appeared at the court sitting in Bray, on charges of issuing a letter “for the purpose of corruptly obtaining an advantage for another person or persons contrary to section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act 2001”.

The date of the alleged offence was June 9th 2006, a month before the end of Mr O’Toole’s 10 years in the position of town clerk of Wicklow Town Council. He moved to Wicklow County Council in 2006 and is now retired.

Mr O’Toole who was arraigned as Francis O’Toole by direction of the judge in a previous sitting at the District Court, was present in the court throughout the adjournment application. He wore a blue suit with a blue shirt and gold -coloured tie and black shoes. He carried a dark blue crombie coat.

Counsel for Mr O’Toole told the court a letter seeking disclosure of documents in the case had been sent to the DPP and a response had not yet been received. Mr O’Toole was therefore seeking an adjournment in the case to allow time for disclosure of the documents.

Counsel for the DPP Paul Murray BL said the request had been received on Monday, and he was not objecting to an adjournment.

Circuit Court judge Michael O’Shea adjourned the case to the March 18th 2015 sitting of Wicklow Circuit Court. The judge remanded Mr O’Toole on continuing bail.