Ring won’t make ‘high risk’ dual mandate appeal

FINE Gael Deputy Michael Ring will not take the “high risk” of appealing the High Court decision upholding the dual mandate ban.

Mr Ring had challenged the Government’s decision to abolish the right of TDs and Senators to hold council seats on the grounds it was unconstitutional.

But Judge Mary Laffoy ruled against him in the High Court yesterday and said the current dual mandate legislation was valid.

Mr Ring said it would cost up to €80,000 to appeal the decision to the Supreme court.

“I am bitterly disappointed I lost the case and would like to bring it further, but it is a high-risk strategy now going to the Supreme Court. I cannot put my family at risk by gambling such huge sums,” said the Mayo deputy.

Even though Judge Laffoy rejected almost all Mr Ring’s grounds for challenging the dual mandate ban, he said his legal team had assured him he had good grounds for winning the case in the Supreme Court.

“If there is anyone out there who would go public about putting up the costs up front, I will take the case to the Supreme Court,” said Mr Ring.

While the State is not seeking costs from Deputy Ring for the four-day hearing in the High Court, he has to pay his own costs, with a little help from some supporters.

“It is a sad day when murderers and rapists and tribunalists can have free access to the courts, but if I want to contest an important issue of law that is basic to my democratic freedom, I am squeezed out because of costs,” said Mr Ring.

He said he will not give up his seat on Mayo County Council until it is dissolved in June.

The Government drop-ped dropped the dual mandate with an undertaking that local government would be given more power with directly elected mayors and councillors retaining the power to set refuse charges.

But since then Environment Minister Martin Cullen has taken this power away by abolishing directly elected mayors and given local authority managers the power to determine refuse charges, Mr Ring said. Meanwhile, TDs elected to the European Parliament this summer have been given a derogation to hold onto their Dail seats until the next general election .

“This is most hypocritical because it is basically allowing TDs to hold the dual mandate in the Dail and the European Parliament but not in council chambers,” insisted Deputy Ring.