Fine Gael activist says ‘John Perry vote pact worked’ on night

A Fine Gael activist told the High Court a voting pact which ensured that John Perry TD would get a colleague’s second preferences at a selection convention had worked on the night.

Councillor Hubert Keaney also said people registering some 686 voters on October 16 in a Drumshambo ballroom venue were not given the proper environment to do the job. On top of that 686, there were another 200 people in the ballroom venue in Drumshambo, Co Leitrim, he said.

Too many people were approaching three registration desks, he said. The people doing the registration were doing their best but could not conduct their jobs in an effective manner, Mr Keaney said.

He was giving evidence on the third day of an action against the trustees of Fine Gael in which Mr Perry, TD for Sligo-Leitrim, seeks to set aside the result of the convention, which he lost. He claims serious irregularities in the conduct of the convention which was to select two candidates for the general election.

Leitrim candidate Gerry Reynolds topped the poll but was one short of the quota, which meant the lowest candidate, Mr Perry, was eliminated. Mr Perry says because of the directive, it should have been Michael Comiskey, as a Leitrim-based candidate, who was eliminated. He had a pact with Mr Comiskey to get his second preferences, most of which would have went to him, he claims.