Belfast judge denies electoral unfairness

In Belfast, a judge has turned down an application asking for a judicial review into alleged electoral irregularities over the distribution of postal vote application forms.

It had been claimed the Ulster Unionist Party in Fermanagh/South Tyrone had benefited from access to postal vote application forms for seven weeks before other parties.

The claim was brought by a former Sinn Fein member, Seamus Kerr, in Co Tyrone. A judge ruled there was no unfairness.

In a separate hearing, a Sinn Fein candidate has been granted leave for a judicial review into claims the RUC failed to prevent loyalist intimidation.

Sinn Fein candidate for South Antrim, Martin Meehan, had claimed the RUC failed to protect his election workers putting posters onto lampposts when they came under loyalist attack.

Sinn Fein says the judge's ruling that the RUC have a case to answer is proof of police collusion with loyalists in attacks on Mr Meehan’s campaign workers.