A SECOND Sinn Fein member has firmly denied allegations against him in an ongoing Gardai probe.
SF councillor Kenneth Collins’ solicitor Frank Buttimer confirmed today that the Cork City North West politician was arrested by cops.
The investigation is into financial allegations at a company at which the two members used to work.
He was questioned as part of the same probe which saw party TD Thomas Gould questioned last Friday.
Mr Buttimer said that he went with Collins to a Garda station in early January to meet with detectives involved in the investigation.
He confirmed his client was arrested and detained under section four of the Criminal Justice Act on the day he met detectives.
Buttimer said: “He denied any wrongdoing of any kind.”
Gould recently confirmed he was the TD at the centre of the fraud investigation but denied all claims made against him.
He said: “I am entirely innocent and reject the complaint which my former employer has made against me.”
Party leader Mary Lou McDonald said the party were alerted to the incident in “early February”.
It comes days after Thomas Gould was named as the well-known politician quizzed by cops over an alleged fraud against a company.
It followed a report that a political figure had been arrested on Friday.
The Cork representative declared himself “entirely innocent” and said he was “shocked and angry” at the claims made by a former employer.
He said: “I am confident that my position will be vindicated having met with the investigating Gardai where I made a detailed statement.
“I will be meeting with my legal team to discuss all avenues now open.
“When this matter was brought to my attention I was shocked and angry.
CLAIMS REJECTED
“I am entirely innocent and reject the complaint which my former employer has made against me.
“Despite my ongoing treatment for bowel cancer I proactively requested that my interview with gardai happen quickly rather than when my treatment concluded as I consider this to be a serious attack on my reputation.
“Yesterday I attended by arrangement with the gardai for interview.
“The complaint made against me relates to my employment as a logistics manager before I was elected to the Dail in 2020. I worked for this company for 16 years.”
He continued: “I was a hard-working employee who was promoted to a senior management level.
“When the company was sold the owner asked me to stay on for a period to help with the transition and I was happy to facilitate him.
“I reject the complaint entirely and I will be meeting with my legal team to discuss all avenues now open.
“I am prevented from making any further comment while the Gardai continue with their work.”
