Fine Gael TD takes selection fight to High Court
Those alleged irregularities included members being recorded as present and voting when they were not present, members who were present and voted but did not have their votes recorded, and two members he never previously heard of having their names added, he claims.
The TD has challenged in High Court proceedings the outcome of the October 16 convention, in which he was not selected to contest the general election for Fine Gael in Sligo-Leitrim.
Among various claims contained in court documents , Mr Perry alleges two members of the Coolaney branch were recorded as having voted when they had not in fact attended the convention. Another member who was recorded as having voted had told Mr Perry he was in fact attending a GAA conference at Croke Park at the time and was not present, Mr Perry claims.
Two other members, from the Kilmacranny branch, had told him they had voted at the convention but were not recorded as having done so, he claims.
His lawyers were told in a letter on November 9, the Fine Gael general secretary “would have observed some unorthodoxy on the part of members and one of the candidates” but regarded the convention as having proceeded “not without a glitch or two, but reasonably satisfactorily nonethless”, he said.
Mr Perry said it is unclear what candidate was alleged to have engaged in “unorthodox activity” on the night but it was not him.
Mr Perry wants injunctions restraining Fine Gael from ratifying a candidate pending the outcome of his full action.
In his full action, he wants orders compelling Fine Gael to convene a selection convention “by way of a poll of eligible members” and in accordance with law, the constitution and party rules.
His counsel, Micheal P. O’Higgins SC, said there was a degree of urgency moving into the next stage of the election machinery.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
