Fine Gael councillor could face expulsion over double claiming on expenses

Terence Slowey claimed he made the excess claims in error but he could now face expulsion from the party.

A FINE GAEL councillor who admitted claiming expenses on the double faces expulsion from the party.

Terence Slowey, a councillor in Donegal County Council, claimed expenses for attending two different local government conferences which took place on the same weekend back in October 2008, reports Highand radio.

Claiming over €2,400 in expenses for trips from Donegal to Cork and Kerry, Slowey admitted to the Standards in Public Office Commission that he had been paid twice.

He later repaid the money, according to the Donegal Democrat.

Slowey claimed he broke the rules in “error” and told the council he had paid a huge price politically as a result of the media interest in the case.

Yesterday, the commission ruled that the councillor had acted recklessly in double claiming for expenses for the two conferences.

A spokesperson for Fine Gael told the Irish Independent: “The possible sanctions are that the whip could be removed, he could be suspended from the party, or he could be expelled.”

Slowey could not be contacted by TheJournal.ie for comment.