Former council official to be tried on corruption charges

A former Wicklow county and town council official who is facing charges of corruption will be tried in November.

Frank O’Toole (63), with an address in Wicklow town, appeared at a sitting of Wicklow Circuit Court in Bray on Tuesday.

He faces 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 case had been adjourned from a date last March to allow for further discovery of documents.

Mr O’Toole was sent forward for trial from the District Court last October, and the case was adjourned at that stage to December to allow time for discovery.

Mr O'Toole, who was represented by counsels Sara Jane Smyth and David Bulbulia, instructed by Fitzgibbon Solicitors, was in court on Tuesday for a very brief mention of the case.

Counsel for the defendant said there were disclosure issues outstanding and she asked that they be dealt with on July 30th.

Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions Paul Murray said the State had received "a comprehensive request in relation to disclosure" and there would be matters for the court to deal with.

Judge Michael O’Shea agreed to hear the issues in relation to disclosure on July 30th next. The court heard it should take about 30 minutes to deal with the matter.

The judge remanded Mr O’Toole on continuing bail for trial on November 17th.

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.