Elderly couple target of postal vote ‘scam’

GARDAÍ in Kerry have confirmed that they are aware of allegations that an elderly couple were approached at their home by a woman giving the impression that she was calling in an official capacity to collect their general election postal ballots.

They claimed the woman named one candidate in the Kerry South constituency and asked them who they would be supporting in the election.

Pat O’Mahony, aged 87 from Lisanore, Castleisland, lives with his elderly wife, Nora, at a rural house close to the recently opened multimillion euro bypass in the area.

He said the woman called last Wednesday and she knew they had postal votes.

It is alleged that she said she was there to collect the ballot papers but the couple became suspicious and she then left.

“If I was vulnerable enough to do it I don’t know what she would have done with them,” said Mr O’Mahony, who is a lifelong Fine Gael supporter and canvassed with the party on many occasions.

He raised the issue with Fine Gael canvassers later in the day and the matter was brought to the attention of gardaí.

A garda spokesman said they were aware of the allegations made but were awaiting a written complaint.

Mr O’Mahony said he has since been informed that at least one other elderly local woman had also been approached by a person claiming to be collecting postal ballots.

“It’s a disgrace to call to old people like that. Why is this happening?” he asked.

Mr O’Mahony, who said it is well known locally that he is a Fine Gael supporter, said he was shocked that the woman called to his home and he said she made a particular point of asking him if he would be supporting a particular candidate.

Castleisland Fine Gael councillor, Bobby O’Connell, slated the incident and he said such behaviour was “disgusting”.

“It is shocking that vulnerable people can be targeted in this way in their own homes. A postal vote is a very private thing and it is designed to give elderly and infirm people an opportunity to vote from the comfort and safety of their own homes,” he said.

“In my opinion this is a breach of their human rights and I know that it has happened at a number of homes in Castleisland where the people have postal votes,” Cllr O’Connell added.