Cork Sinn Féin councillor Kenneth Collins also denies allegations over financial investigation

Kenneth Collins, a Sinn Féin councillor for the city's North West ward, has confirmed that he was arrested by gardaí and questioned as part of the same investigation which saw Cork North Central Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould arrested and released without charge on Friday.

In a statement to RTÉ News, Mr Collins’s solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said he had accompanied Mr Collins to Togher Garda Station in early January for an appointment with detectives involved in the investigation.

Mr Buttimer said Mr Collins, who denies any wrongdoing, was arrested and detained under section four of the Criminal Justice Act, and was held for questioning over several hours.

Mr Collins, a native of Gurranabraher, was first elected to Cork City Council in 2014, and was subsequently re-elected in 2019 and 2024.

Mr Buttimer told RTÉ that Mr Collins had fully co-operated with garda enquiries and he denied any wrongdoing of any kind.

He said detectives at Togher had made Mr Collins aware of the details of the allegations against him, made by a former employer, which, Mr Buttimer said, Mr Collins had not heard before then.

Last night, Mr Gould issued a statement through his solicitor, William Harvey, confirming that he had been arrested and released without charge on Friday in relation to an alleged fraud at a company he had previously worked in, saying he was entirely innocent and utterly rejected the complaint against him.

“When this matter was brought to my attention I was shocked and angry,” he said.

“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 gardaí happen quickly rather than when my treatment concluded as I consider this to be a serious attack on my reputation.

“I am confident that my position will be vindicated having met with the investigating gardaí where I made a detailed statement,” Mr Gould said.

In a statement issued last night, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that both Mr Gould and Mr Collins “emphatically” denied the allegations and it was now up to the gardaí to continue their investigation.

“In early February, Deputy Thomas Gould informed the party that a complaint had been made against him to the Gardaí and that he had been asked to make a statement on the matter,” Ms McDonald said.

“He was interviewed by gardaí in Cork yesterday [Friday] and made a detailed statement to them.

“We understand that a number of other people have been questioned as part of Garda inquiries. This includes party councillor Kenneth Collins, who worked for the company, and was questioned by Gardaí in January.

“They both emphatically deny the allegations.”

A file is expected to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.