Councillor Fahy to appeal

THE legal team representing Cllr. Michael Fahy say that they will lodge an appeal to his conviction within ten days – and this means that he will be in a position to fight next year’s local elections.His decision comes despite a call from Judge Michael White after sentencing yesterday that the controversial Councillor now 'act with dignity and resign his seat' after being found guilty of fraud.Judge White sentenced Cllr Fahy to one year in jail for obtaining €7,000 by false pretences from Galway County Council in 2002. The independent Ardrahan councillor was earlier acquitted on four other charges of fraud and false accounting while two other charges were struck out on the direction of the Judge.However, after the judge suspended the last four months of the twelve month sentence and took into account the seven months already served, Mr Fahy was told he was free to go. He was fined €30,000.The fact that he was found guilty on one charge would preclude him from contesting the next local elections - but now he is set to lodge an appeal. His solicitor Gearoid Geraghty confirmed to The Connacht Tribune that an appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal will be lodged within a matter of 10 days.It could take...