Former Fianna Fáil Cork City councillor Gary O'Flynn has been jailed for 12 months for deception.

It comes after O'Flynn (39) was convicted last month of 13 sample counts of obtaining sums totalling €1,000 by deception.

Gary O'Flynn, with an address at Hayfield Drive, Castle Court, Whitechurch, was given a three-year sentence, with the final two years suspended.

Judge Sean Ó'Donnabháin said the solicitor and financial adviser was guilty of a huge breach of trust when builder Eric Higgins came to him in despair about the financial difficulties he found himself in.

Mr. Higgins alerted gardaí over the theft of monies he had paid into bank accounts nominated by Mr. O'Flynn.

The court also heard that since Gary O'Flynn's conviction in May, gardaí have received a cheque from Mr. O'Flynn for €6,272 which represents the money taken from Eric Higgins.

In his sentencing Judge Sean Ó'Donnabháin said there had to be a custodial sentence and had it not been for his depressive disorder, Mr. O'Flynn's sentence would be longer.