Ferris risks drop zone after major vote loss

AN election poll in Kerry North has suggested Sinn Féin’s Martin Ferris could lose a sizeable amount of his 2002 vote.

But Mr Ferris, despite his projected 15% polling, will be re-elected.

Overall, some parties and candidates in Kerry reacted with scepticism to the results of election polls in the county’s two constituencies, published yesterday.

Kerry North FF candidate Norma Foley said she could not accept a poll that gave her just 7% of the vote.

“I’m getting very good support. This poll certainly doesn’t compare with the reaction I’m receiving on the doorsteps,” she said.

“I believe I’ll vastly improve on what the poll is giving me. Some of these polls can be very wrong and misleading, and I believe there’s a seat still there for the taking.”

The Kerryman/Radio Kerry polls, conducted last weekend, put Fine Gael’s Jimmy Deenihan on 37%, followed by FF TD Tom McEllistrim on 24% in the three seat constituency.

If the poll is correct, Mr Ferris will drop a large amount of votes, but still take the third seat.

Labour candidate Terry O’Brien also disputed the poll findings which put him at 10%. He is faced with an uphill task to win back the seat lost by former Labour party leader Dick Spring, in 2002.

“I’m still there with a fighting chance. I’ll keep working away. I’ll still be in the mix at the end. Don’t write me off,’ Mr O’Brien cautioned.

In Kerry South, a similar poll gave Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue a commanding 33% of the vote — up from the 26% he received in 2002. His FF running mate, Tom Fleming is second on 14%.

After Mr O’Donoghue is elected, there could be a nail-biting battle for the remaining two seats in Kerry South, currently held by Labour’s Breeda Moynihan Cronin and Independent Jackie Healy-Rae.

Ms Moynihan-Cronin and Healy-Rae, both on 13% according to the poll, could be under pressure in a four-way battle for two seats with Tom Fleming and one of the FG candidates.

The poll, carried out in conjunction with the Institute of Technology Tralee, shows Seamus Cosai Fitzgerald to be leading FG candidate, on 13%, with Tom Sheahan, FG, on 9 %.