Former Fine Gael councillor to appeal corruption conviction

Former Fine Gael Councillor Fred Forsey Jnr has been given a date in May to appeal his conviction and prison sentence for receiving corrupt payments from a property developer.

Forsey (45), of Coolagh Road, Abbeyside, Dungarvan Co Waterford, had pleaded not guilty to receiving €60,000, €10,000 and €10,000 in three corrupt payments from a property developer in 2006.

He was found guilty by a jury at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final two suspended by Judge Gerard Griffin on June 27th, 2012.

Before the President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice Seán Ryan, counsel for both sides agreed the date of May 18th next for Forsey’s appeal.

He had been granted an extension of time by the Court of Criminal Appeal last October to allow him appeal his sentence and conviction. A defendant normally has 21 days from the date of their sentence to file a notice of their intent to appeal.

Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne had said the absence of an earlier intention to appeal should not prevent the court form acting.

She said the court was satisfied that the proposed grounds of appeal were such that the interests of justice required that time be enlarged.

His ex-wife Ms Jenny Forsey gave evidence against him during the Waterford Circuit Court trial.