Forsey has first night in jail over €80k bribes

He woke up this morning in Dublin's Mountjoy Jail but is expected to be transferred to the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise to serve out his sentence.

His lover Karen Morrissey (26) will continue her relationship with the former deputy mayor of Dungarvan while he is behind bars.

Forsey (43) left his wife, Jenny, for Morrissey in 2006 after mistakenly exposing the affair by sending a text message to his teenage daughter instead of his lover.

While the former politician managed to keep his composure as he was sentenced, Morrissey wept.

Trembled

Forsey had sobbed uncontrollably on the day a jury unanimously found him guilty of corruption but he appeared calm as he stood up to learn his fate shortly after midday yesterday.

Morrissey was the one to break down when Judge Gerard Griffin read out the sentence.

The petite brunette whimpered quietly. As tears streamed down her cheeks, her body trembled.

Forsey looked directly ahead and did not quiver as Judge Griffin handed him a six-year sentence for each of the six counts of corruption.

The six years are to run concurrently, with the final two years suspended.

With the automatic discount given to prisoners, Forsey is likely to spend just three years locked up for corruption. His bags were packed in anticipation of a jail sentence.

Following his sentencing, he and Morrissey embraced before he was led away, leaving his lover upset.

The couple had spent the past few weeks at their rented beach house, which is owned by a private detective, in Ballinacourty near Dungarvan, Co Waterford.

Forsey had to travel to Dublin for yesterday's Circuit Criminal Court hearing as Judge Griffin was no longer sitting in Waterford.

Ex-wife Jenny Forsey, who has three children with Fred, did not attend the sentencing and is no longer in contact with him.

hnews@herald.ie