Ivor Callely

Callely was born in Clontarf, Dublin and was educated at St Paul's College, Raheny.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

Callely first held political office in 1985 when he was elected to Dublin Corporation. He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 1987 general election but was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1989 general election and held his seat at the three subsequent general elections.{{cite web|url=http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=3623|title=Ivor Callely|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=20 March 2010|archive-date=12 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312053722/http://electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?id=3623|url-status=live}}

In 1991 he became the youngest chairperson of the Eastern Health Board. Between 1993 and 1995 he served as Assistant Chief Whip in Fianna Fáil. From 1995 to 1997 he served as Fianna Fáil Policy Co-ordinator. At the 1997 general election he received the fifth highest vote in the country. This was followed up at the 1999 local elections when he received the highest vote in the country.

In 2002 Callely was appointed by the government of Bertie Ahern as Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with special responsibility for services for older people.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2002-06-18/12/|title=Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)|date=18 June 2002|access-date=11 January 2020|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028211333/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2002-06-18/12/|url-status=live}} In a reshuffle in September 2004, he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for certain traffic management issues in Dublin and the major cities, road haulage and the Irish Aviation Authority.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2004-09-30/3/|title=Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State: Statements – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil)|date=30 September 2004|access-date=2 November 2019|website=Houses of the Oireachtas|archive-date=12 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112213241/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2004-09-30/3/|url-status=live}} His announcements about railway projects attracted the nickname "Ivor the Engine".{{cite web | url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-10034098.html | title='Ivor the Engine' huffs and puffs | date=16 February 2005 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/opinion/ivor-the-engine-finallyruns-out-of-steam-30465826.html | title=Ivor the Engine finally runs out of steam | date=29 July 2014 }}{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/engine-callely-ignites-a-fuse-1.521288 | title='Engine Callely' ignites a fuse | newspaper=The Irish Times }}

On 8 December 2005, Callely resigned his ministerial post after an RTÉ News report that a building contractor involved in public contracts had painted his house for free in the early 1990s.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1207/callelyi.html|title=Callely considers resigning amid controversy|work=RTÉ News|date=7 December 2005|access-date=8 December 2005|archive-date=12 March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312192711/http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1207/callelyi.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1208/callelyi.html|title=Callely quits ministerial post – reports|work=RTÉ News|date=8 December 2005|access-date=8 December 2005|archive-date=14 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214074546/http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1208/callelyi.html|url-status=live}} It was also revealed that Callely had offered to personally buy a new car for one of his civil service advisers, in an attempt to persuade the adviser not to leave their job. Callely's department had an unusually high turnover of staff for some time under his stewardship.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1202/callelyi.html|title=Harney speaks out over Callely staffing|work=RTÉ News|date=2 December 2005|access-date=13 November 2009|archive-date=16 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716180824/http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1202/callelyi.html|url-status=live}}

Callely lost his seat at the 2007 general election and was also unsuccessful at the Seanad elections for the Industrial and Commercial Panel in 2007. He was subsequently appointed by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to the Seanad. He did not contest the 2011 general election or the 2011 Seanad election.

On 4 April 2011, Callely was fined €60 in court for using a mobile phone while driving.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0404/callelyi.html|title=Ivor Callely fined over mobile phone use|work=RTÉ News|date=4 April 2011|access-date=5 April 2011|archive-date=6 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406082538/http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0404/callelyi.html|url-status=live}}

In 2005, the Standards in Public Office Commission received a complaint regarding an advertisement for the Operation Freeflow system which outlined traffic and travel arrangements in Dublin in the pre-Christmas period, and which featured a photograph of Callely, then Minister of State. The complainant was of the view that the Minister's appearance in the advertisement was a direct contravention of section 2.2.3 of the Code of Conduct for Office Holders as outlined above. The Standards Commission wrote to the complainant advising that they did not consider that the inclusion of a photograph of an office holder in an advertisement relating to a matter which encompassed his functions as an office holder was necessarily inappropriate. However, it also considered that the provisions of the code were insufficiently clear so as to distinguish between the appropriate use of a photograph of an office holder as part of a necessary advertising campaign and an inappropriate raising of profile in the context of a general election. The Standards Commission wrote to the Taoiseach and requested that the provisions of section 2.2.3 of the Code of Conduct for office holders be reviewed in order that office holders are provided with clear guidelines as to the circumstances in which public resources can be used in a way which avoids the inappropriate raising of profile in the context of a general election.{{cite web|url=http://sipo.gov.ie/en/Reports/AnnualReports/AnnualReport2005/Name,5300,en.htm |title=Annual Report 2005 |work=Standards in Public Office Commission |access-date=22 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719093301/http://www.sipo.gov.ie/en/Reports/AnnualReports/AnnualReport2005/Name%2C5300%2Cen.htm |archive-date=19 July 2011 }}

{{Main|Ivor Callely expenses scandal}}

On 30 May 2010, a Freedom of Information Act request revealed Callely had claimed expenses totalling €81,015 since 2007 for overnight and travel expenses to a house in County Cork.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/callely-got-836480000-mileage-from-cork-2200569.html|title=Callely got €80,000 mileage from Cork|work=Irish Independent|date=30 May 2010|access-date=2 June 2010|first=John|last=Drennan|archive-date=2 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602070641/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/callely-got-836480000-mileage-from-cork-2200569.html|url-status=live}} Callely said that following the loss of his Dáil seat in 2007, he took up residence in Cork. After his nomination to the Seanad, Callely informed Oireachtas officials in December 2007 that his "current principal residence" was Kilcrohane, Bantry in County Cork, which is 370 km from Leinster House. The Irish Independent reported that he was still politically active in Dublin, ran a constituency office on the northside of Dublin and attended Fianna Fáil meetings locally.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/callely-active-in-dublin-despite-836481000-expenses-claims-from-cork-2201209.html|title=Callely 'active' in Dublin despite €81,000 expenses claims from Cork|work=Irish Independent|date=31 May 2010|access-date=2 June 2010|first=Fionnan|last=Sheahan|archive-date=3 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603201711/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/callely-active-in-dublin-despite-836481000-expenses-claims-from-cork-2201209.html|url-status=live}} Following pressure from the then Taioseach Brian Cowen,{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/callely-facing-loss-of-party-whip-26659582.html|title=Callely facing loss of party whip|website=Independent.ie|date=4 June 2010 |language=en|access-date=11 February 2019|archive-date=12 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212130924/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/callely-facing-loss-of-party-whip-26659582.html|url-status=live}} Callely resigned the Fianna Fáil party whip on 5 June 2010.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0605/callelyi_butlerl.html|title=Ivor Callely resigns FF party whip|work=RTÉ News|date=5 June 2010|access-date=7 June 2010|archive-date=5 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605141851/http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0605/callelyi_butlerl.html|url-status=live}} He claimed a €140 "overnight" allowance on hundreds of occasions when attending the Seanad – even though he stayed in his Dublin home on the nights in question.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/callelys-overnight-expenses-for-staying-in-dublin-home-123505.html#ixzz0s4cnsD4u|title=Callely's 'overnight' expenses for staying in Dublin home|work=Irish Examiner|date=26 June 2010|access-date=27 June 2010|archive-date=29 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629215155/http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/callelys-overnight-expenses-for-staying-in-dublin-home-123505.html#ixzz0s4cnsD4u|url-status=live}}

Following further revelations about Callely's expenses in August 2010,{{cite web |title=2010 in review: August |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/2010-in-review-august-60989-Dec2010/ |website=TheJournal.ie |access-date=16 November 2020 |date=27 December 2010 |archive-date=17 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217121610/http://www.thejournal.ie/2010-in-review-august-60989-Dec2010/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=McCarthaigh |first1=Sean |title=Callely could face criminal prosecution over expenses |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20181564.html |access-date=16 November 2020 |work=Irish Examiner |date=26 January 2012}} he was suspended without prejudice from the Fianna Fáil party pending the outcome of an internal investigation.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0803/breaking37.html|title=Callely suspended by FF over expense allegations|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=3 August 2010|access-date=3 August 2010|archive-date=24 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024083835/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0803/breaking37.html|url-status=live}} A further complaint against Callely followed later that month{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0823/breaking23.html|title=Committee confirms new complaint against Callely|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=23 August 2010|access-date=23 August 2010|archive-date=24 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024085301/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0823/breaking23.html|url-status=live}} and he resigned from the Fianna Fáil organisation on 24 August.

Callely was arrested on 25 January 2012 concerning allegations he had used forged receipts for mobile phone kits.[http://www.thejournal.ie/callely-arrested-in-probe-over-mobile-phone-receipts-337023-Jan2012/ "Callely arrested in probe over mobile phone receipts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127185542/http://www.thejournal.ie/callely-arrested-in-probe-over-mobile-phone-receipts-337023-Jan2012/ |date=27 January 2012 }}, TheJournal.ie, 25 January 2012. He was arrested again in April 2013, and taken to Clontarf Garda Station, where he was charged in connection with alleged fraud and theft offences.{{cite news|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/ivor-callely-court-fraud-charges-876338-Apr2013/|title=Ivor Callely appears in court over allegedly falsified expenses claims|work=thejournal.ie|date=19 April 2013|access-date=20 April 2013|archive-date=22 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130422072139/http://www.thejournal.ie/ivor-callely-court-fraud-charges-876338-Apr2013/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0419/382410-callely-arrest/|title=Ivor Callely appears in court on charges relating to false invoices|work=RTÉ News|date=19 April 2013|access-date=20 April 2013|archive-date=4 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104212725/http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0419/382410-callely-arrest/|url-status=live}} The charges were reported to relate to an ongoing investigation about the alleged use of false invoices to claim expenses for the purchase of mobile phones. Later that day he was charged with six counts of using fraudulent instruments in the Dublin Criminal Courts of Justice.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/callely-charged-with-making-bogus-expenses-claims-29207957.html|title=Callely charged with making bogus expenses claims|work=Irish Independent|date=19 April 2013|access-date=20 April 2013|archive-date=10 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610052131/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/callely-charged-with-making-bogus-expenses-claims-29207957.html|url-status=live}} In March 2014, Callely pleaded guilty to making false mobile phone expenses claims while a member of the Oireachtas,{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0303/507931-ivor-callely/|title=Ivor Callely admits making false phone expenses claim|work=RTÉ News|date=3 March 2014|access-date=3 March 2014|archive-date=4 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304020949/http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0303/507931-ivor-callely/|url-status=live}} and was convicted in July 2014 and sentenced to 5 months in prison.[http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ivor-callely-sentenced-to-five-months-in-prison-1.1880454 "Ivor Callely sentenced to five months in prison"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728165205/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ivor-callely-sentenced-to-five-months-in-prison-1.1880454 |date=28 July 2014 }}, The Irish Times, 28 July 2014. In passing sentence, Judge Mary Ellen Ring ruled that Callely's position at the time was an aggravating factor and said that a prison term was demanded by the public interest.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0728/633512-ivor-callely/|title=Ivor Callely jailed for five months for fraudulently claiming expenses|work=RTÉ News|date=28 July 2014|access-date=28 July 2014|archive-date=28 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728123437/http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0728/633512-ivor-callely/|url-status=live}} He served his sentence at Wheatfield Prison in Clondalkin, Dublin.

Separately, on 27 April 2012, Callely was fined €150 in court for driving without an NCT disc displayed.{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0427/ivor-callely-fined-150-no-nct-disc-displayed.html|title=Ivor Callely fined €150 for driving without NCT disc|work=RTÉ News|date=27 April 2012|access-date=23 May 2012|archive-date=30 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430020850/http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0427/ivor-callely-fined-150-no-nct-disc-displayed.html|url-status=live}}

In May 2012, the Irish Independent reported that Callely was overpaid almost €6,000 in mileage expenses while he was a Minister of State from 2004 to 2005. This error (separate to the invoice fraud) was discovered in 2010 but he had refused to pay back the money.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ivor-callely-refuses-to-pay-back-6k-he-was-overpaid-in-expenses-3113073.html|title=Ivor Callely refuses to pay back €6k he was overpaid in expense|work=Irish Independent|date=21 May 2012|access-date=23 May 2012|archive-date=24 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524010012/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ivor-callely-refuses-to-pay-back-6k-he-was-overpaid-in-expenses-3113073.html|url-status=live}} When Callely was asked by the Department of Transport to make proposals for repayment on a goodwill basis, he replied that due to the need to devote his energy to other proceedings he was not in a position to deal with the issue at that time.

In May 2016 a bench order was again issued for Callely's arrest, when he failed to attend a court sitting relating to non-payment of a debt.{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/judge-issues-bench-warrant-for-arrest-of-ivor-callely-1.2650796/|title=Judge Issues Bench Warrant for Arrest of Ivor Callely|work=Irish Times|date=17 May 2016|access-date=19 May 2016|archive-date=18 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518102705/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/judge-issues-bench-warrant-for-arrest-of-ivor-callely-1.2650796|url-status=live}} It was subsequently reported on Tuesday 17 May that Callely had already made arrangements to pay this debt and therefore did not need to appear in court. This was explained as a breakdown in communication. It was reported on Wednesday 18 May however that this was not the case, that there was no breakdown of communication and that no arrangements had been made to pay the debt.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/lawyers-reject-claim-disgraced-politician-callely-had-settled-case-before-arrest-warrant-issued-34726797.html|title=Lawyers reject claim disgraced politician Callely had settled case before arrest warrant issued|work=Irish Independent|date=18 May 2016|access-date=19 May 2016|archive-date=19 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519115943/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/lawyers-reject-claim-disgraced-politician-callely-had-settled-case-before-arrest-warrant-issued-34726797.html|url-status=live}}

In July 2018, Callely was convicted of seven counts of criminal damage and one count of harassment against a GP practice in a property dispute.{{cite news |title=Ivor Callely 'flipped' and damaged GP's surgery in property dispute |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/ivor-callely-flipped-and-damaged-gp-s-surgery-in-property-dispute-1.3556441 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=6 July 2018 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Ivor Callely sentenced for harassing doctor and damage that included smearing walls with tea and dust |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30853503.html |work=Irish Examiner |date=6 July 2018 |language=en}} The offences, which involved the destruction of magazines and the smearing of tea bags on the walls of the doctor's office, were recorded on CCTV and were described as "very bizarre" by the presiding judge. Callely received a suspended sentence of eight months.

In October 2019, Callely and his estranged spouse, Jennifer Foley, were sued by Everyday Finance DAC, a finance company, over an alleged €2.9 million in outstanding property loans.{{cite news |title=Ivor Callely and wife being sued over €2.9m allegedly due in loans |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/ivor-callely-and-wife-being-sued-over-2-9m-allegedly-due-in-loans-1.4050290 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=14 October 2019 |language=en}} In March 2020, it was reported that Foley engaged and reached a settlement on her share of debt with the firm.{{cite news |title=Finance company gets €1.5m summary judgment against Ivor Callely |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/finance-company-gets-1-5m-summary-judgment-against-ivor-callely-1.4201392 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=12 March 2020 |language=en}} Callely claimed that he was unable to deal with the case due to injuries sustained from a bicycle accident, and he subsequently was ordered to pay €1.5 million following a summary judgement in the company's favour.

{{Reflist|2}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef|before = Tom Moffatt}}

{{s-ttl|title = Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children

|years = 2002–2004}}

{{s-aft|after = Seán Power}}

{{s-bef|before = Jim McDaid}}

{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Minister of State at the Department of Transport}}

|years = 2004–2005}}

{{s-aft|after = Pat "the Cope" Gallagher}}

{{s-end}}

{{Dublin North-Central (Dáil constituency)/TDs}}

{{Members of the 23rd Seanad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Callely, Ivor}}

Category:1958 births

Category:Living people

Category:Fianna Fáil TDs

Category:Independent members of Seanad Éireann

Category:Irish politicians convicted of crimes

Category:Members of Dublin City Council

Category:Members of the 23rd Seanad

Category:Members of the 26th Dáil

Category:Members of the 27th Dáil

Category:Members of the 28th Dáil

Category:Members of the 29th Dáil

Category:Ministers of State of the 29th Dáil

Category:People educated at St Paul's College, Raheny

Category:Politicians convicted of fraud

Category:Nominated members of Seanad Éireann

Category:Fianna Fáil senators