Former Lancashire County Council leader summoned to court over financial irregularities

FOUR men are due to appear in court after they were summonsed to appear in connection with Lancashire Constabulary’s Operation Sheridan.

Operation Sheridan was launched in 2013 following allegations of financial irregularity made to the constabulary by Lancashire County Council.

On completion of the investigation, during which we worked closely with Merseyside Police, Lancashire County Council and Liverpool City Council, we referred the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service who have authorised charges for four individuals.

They are:

Dr David McElhinney, 62 of Ormskirk Road, Knowsley, who has been summonsed to face charges of misconduct in public office and procuring misconduct in public office.

Philip Halsall, 64 of Hesketh Road, Southport who has been summonsed to face charges of misconduct in public office and procuring misconduct in public office.

Gerald Fitzgerald, 60 of Dover Road, Birkdale, who 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, who has been summonsed to face a charge of Taking Revenge under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act.

All four men have been served with postal requisition orders this week and are due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, October 12th 2022.

Four other men aged 62, 64, 66 and 68 were written to earlier this year and told they would face no further action.

We would like to remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are active and that they have a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.