TD’S AIDE ‘FORGED PAPERS FOR €18K PAY HIKE’

Garda investigation as assistant resigns over documents

A CRIMINAL investigation is under way into whether a TD’s assistant fraudulently claimed thousands of euro of public money, the Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Gardaí are probing whether the assistant, who has resigned, forged documents – including a reference from the TD – in a bid to fraudulently claim approximately €18,000 more than they were entitled to over a two-

year period. An Oireachtas investigation has also been launched, and the incident is understood to have prompted a major review and will lead to sweeping reforms of how staff with Leinster House’s human resources department authenticate such documents in relation to pay for TDs’ assistants.

In what is thought to be the first case of its kind to be investigated by gardaí, the assistant is alleged to have forged three references – including one purporting to be from the TD – in a bid to claim incremental credits.

This weekend, the former assistant, who was on sick leave in the months prior to leaving the role, confirmed their resignation, but said it was done for personal reasons and due to the increasingly demanding nature of the job. The former assistant denied forging the documents.

‘This person is the ideal candidate’

The TD was said to have been shocked to discover that the employee’s file, which was accessed during an audit, contained a reference which purported to be from the elected representative. It reads: ‘To me, this person was the ideal candidate – trustworthy, hardworking and has an extremely pleasant and approachable manner.’ This reference was written on the personal headed notepaper of the TD.

Another reference included a name and phone number of a referee, which was later found on investigation to be a relative of the assistant.

All references are a testament to the former assistant’s integrity, character and professionalism. ‘I would highly recommend [name redacted] for any position going forward,’ one reads.

It is understood that none of the references refer to specific educational qualifications.

An Oireachtas source told the MoS that the assistant had been claiming at the higher rate over a two-year period.

The assistant had gone on sick leave in the months leading up to the discovery and was being paid in full at the higher rate for three months of the leave.

The MoS understands that the TD accessed the file while the employee was on leave, and realised the person who worked for them for six years had applied for incremental credits.

The assistant ‘had been claiming for a point 4 on the scale when they should have only been a point 1’. The incremental credit was based on three references, including one that claimed to be from the TD.

The source added: ‘The TD, however, has claimed this was not written or signed by them. The TD told HR this and there was panic stations. The Oireachtas had accepted these references without ever checking them out or without notifying the TD.

‘It was reported to the gardaí and the assistant resigned. HR said they had never seen the likes of it before.’

Gardaí have interviewed the TD in question and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. They have not yet interviewed the assistant in question, and other key staff at the Oireachtas are also due be interviewed as part of their enquiries.

The matter was referred to the gardaí in late 2018, after the alleged over-claim was also reviewed by the salary department in the Oireachtas.

The alleged over-claim could amount to an offence under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.

A source told the MoS the matter is the subject of two investigations, including a criminal investigation and an internal Oireachtas investigation.

However, when contacted by the MoS yesterday, the former assistant denied forging the documents, though they admitted it is not uncommon for an assistant to sign letters on behalf of a TD given the demands placed on TDs’ time. ‘I won’t be commenting further without speaking to my solicitor,’ said the individual in question. ‘I didn’t expect this today. I wasn’t aware of any investigation by the gardaí or Oireachtas.’

The TD declined to comment when contacted by the MoS.

The Oireachtas referred the matter to the gardaí after the over-claim was spotted and suspicions arose over documents. An Oireachtas source said: ‘Supporting documents have been surrendered to investigating gardaí.

‘Secretarial assistants get increments year on year, but this assistant is alleged to have claimed significantly more than she was entitled.’

This is thought to be the first time a TD’s assistant has been investigated by gardaí for making fraudulent claims.

In 2014, former junior minister Ivor Callely was jailed for five months after fraudulently claiming expenses in relation to mobile phone expenses. He was jailed after the MoS revealed how the then-senator forged documents to claim retrospective expenses on mobile phone equipment in 2007.

‘HR has never seen the likes of it before’