Fine Gael breaks silence as ex councillor blew €172k charity cash on escorts and drugs

Ex Fine Gael councillor Sean McKiernan has been jailed for stealing €172,120 from a mental health charity, which he spent on South American male escorts, brothel parties and illegal drugs.

The Fine Gael party has said it was “shocked” by the actions of ex-councillor Sean McKiernan, jailed this week for stealing €172,120 from a mental health charity, and blew the money on South American male escorts, brothel parties, and illegal drugs including crystal meth and GHB.

Sean McKiernan (44) was jailed on Monday for three years and nine months with the final 12 months suspended after the presiding judge said: “It is a serious breach of trust to a number of vulnerable people as an employee of a charity.”

Trim Circuit Court heard on Monday that McKiernan, who was a former history-making Fine Gael chairman of Cavan County Council, was diagnosed with ‘major depressive disorder’.

Fine Gael breaks silence as ex councillor blew €172k charity cash on escorts and drugs

Ex Fine Gael councillor Sean McKiernan has been jailed for stealing €172,120 from a mental health charity, which he spent on South American male escorts, brothel parties and illegal drugs.

Nicola Donnelly

05:00, 19 Dec 2025

View 3 ImagesFormer Cathaeoirleach of Cavan County Council, Sean McKiernan, pictured at Trim Circuit Court, where he appeared on charges of theft of €172,000 from the Navan Mental Health Housing Association(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

The Fine Gael party has said it was “shocked” by the actions of ex-councillor Sean McKiernan, jailed this week for stealing €172,120 from a mental health charity, and blew the money on South American male escorts, brothel parties, and illegal drugs including crystal meth and GHB.

Sean McKiernan (44) was jailed on Monday for three years and nine months with the final 12 months suspended after the presiding judge said: “It is a serious breach of trust to a number of vulnerable people as an employee of a charity.”

Trim Circuit Court heard on Monday that McKiernan, who was a former history-making Fine Gael chairman of Cavan County Council, was diagnosed with ‘major depressive disorder’.

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The court also heard he has significant self esteem and mental health issues since his teenage years, was lonely and arranged escorts mainly to procure drugs such as crystal meth and GHB, a date rape drug, “as he enjoyed the highs and euphoria” of taking the illegal substances.

The court heard he is “deeply ashamed of his gross abuse of trust,” and that the “shame has become paralysing for him.”

McKiernan (44), from Trinity Bungalow, Virginia Road, Bailieborough in Cavan pleaded guilty at Trim Circuit Court to 11 sample counts of theft of the money from Navan Mental Health Housing Association LTD out of a total of 58 counts.