Gardaí probe Allen letter
A disgruntled member of the public has made a formal written complaint to the gardaí, alleging forgery and intent to deceive.
Corkman Michael Grimes has asked gardaí to investigate Lorcan Allen’s bogus campaign letter.
He has vowed to pursue the matter through the courts, even if the gardaí do not take up his challenge.
A former Junior Minister and sitting Wexford County Council member, Mr Allen, was suspended from the party for a year. He was also expelled from his position on the Fianna Fáil National Executive after he admitted producing and distributing the letters to voters before last month’s election.
However, Mr Grimes feels that all Mr Allen got was “a wrap on the knuckles” from Fianna Fáil.
“If you or I were to commit a crime, we would be arrested within minutes and would be brought to the garda station and would be brought before the courts,” said Mr Grimes.
“In this case, we have a man admitting to forgery and nothing is being done. I wrote to the garda superintendent and am demanding that he proceed with the complaint. Gardaí said up to now that they could not proceed with a complaint because they hadn’t got one. Now they can.”
Gardaí confirmed that they have received the complaint and that it will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for his ruling on the matter.
But Mr Grimes says he will not let it end there. “I will seek a judicial review of the matter if the gardaí won’t proceed with it.”
Mr Allen said he had no comment to make on the latest challenge.
