Gould confirms he was questioned over financial issues

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould has confirmed he is the Oireachtas member who was questioned yesterday over financial issues at a company he previously worked in, saying he "utterly" rejects the claims.

The Irish Times reported yesterday morning that an Oireachtas member was arrested by appointment at a Cork garda station on Friday in relation to the issue. The individual was later released without charge, while a garda statement also confirmed a man was arrested in Cork "as part of an ongoing investigation into fraud offences" before being released without charge.

In a statement last night, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald confirmed Mr Gould was the individual involved and that he told the party of the incident in "early February".

The statement said: "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.

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

The Sinn Féin statement continued that "a number of other people have been questioned as part of garda inquiries".

In a separate statement last night through Cork-based solicitors Martin A Harvey, Mr Gould repeated the Sinn Féin position.

He said he "utterly rejects the complaint" made against him and is "entirely innocent".

Mr Gould said he was "shocked and angry" when the issue emerged.

He continued that as he is being treated for bowel cancer, he proactively sought an interview with gardaí, before describing the allegations as an "attack on my reputation" and that he is confident he will be vindicated.