Retrial of councillor starts today

THE retrial of Galway County Councillor Michael 'Stroke’ Fahy, who faces fraud and attempted theft charges begins before Judge Michael White at Galway Circuit Criminal court today.The 57-year-old councillor, had been convicted by a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court in March, 2007, following a two week trial, held at Galway and then later at Loughrea Courthouses, of seven chargesbrought under various sections of the Larceny, Theft and Fraud Offences Act, for the alleged erection of over a mile of fencing on his lands at Ardrahan by a private contractor hired by Galway County Council using public funds, under a Community Involvement Scheme.At the time Judge Raymond Groarke imposed a 12-month prison sentence along with a €75,000 fine on Cllr Fahy. However...