Former officers and council leader summonsed to court
Three former senior local government officers and a former Lancashire County Council leader have been summonsed over offences relating to the nine-year-long Operation Sheridan police investigation.
A Lancashire Police statement said Operation Sheridan was launched in 2013 “following allegations of financial irregularity made to the constabulary by Lancashire County Council”.
It worked with Merseyside Police, Lancashire County Council and Liverpool City Council, and later referred the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service which has now authorised charges.These are:
- David McElhinney, 62 of Ormskirk Road, Knowsley, has been summonsed to face charges of misconduct in public office and procuring misconduct in public office.
- Philip Halsall, 64 of Hesketh Road, Southport, has also been summonsed to face charges of misconduct in public office and procuring misconduct in public office.
- Gerald Fitzgerald, 60 of Dover Road, Birkdale, has been summonsed to face charges of misconduct in public office and aiding and abetting misconduct in public office.
- Geoff Driver, 77 of Hoylake Close, Preston, former Conservative leader of Lancashire County Council, has been summonsed to face a charge of taking revenge under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.
All four men are due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 12 October.
Police said four other men aged 62, 64, 66 and 68 were written to earlier this year and told they would face no further action.
A Lancashire County Council spokesperson said: "We note police have announced that three former senior members of staff and the former leader of the council have been summonsed to appear in court as part of an ongoing police investigation into historical alleged incidents of misconduct involving Lancashire County Council and other organisations.
"We have, of course, been cooperating fully with the police throughout the investigation, which relates to allegations from many years ago.
“None of those summonsed still work for Lancashire County Council. Lancashire County Council is focussed on our future, not the past, and our priority continues to be providing the vital, everyday services that the people of Lancashire rely on.
“As this is now in the hands of the courts we cannot make any further comment at this stage.”
Andrew Penhale, chief crown prosecutor, said: “The CPS has reviewed a file of evidence from Lancashire Police and authorised the investigation team to issue charges against four people with offences related to the misconduct of senior local government officers in Liverpool City Council and Lancashire County Council.”
Mark Smulian
