McGuinness appeals against "harassment" of Ferris

Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness has appealed directly to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to bring a halt to a ‘‘campaign of political harassment’’ against Martin Ferris after his arrest in Kerry today.

Sinn Fein's candidate for North Kerry, Martin Ferris, was arrested by gardai investigating vigilante attacks in the county.

Mr McGuinness, MP for Mid-Ulster, has called for his colleague’s immediate release.

Mr Ferris was taken into custody in Tralee as part of an ongoing probe into the beating of a man in Castleisland during December.

The alleged drug dealer was abducted from the town and taken to a remote area before being assaulted and his car was then set on fire.

Mr McGuinness said: ‘‘Over the last number of weeks we have seen the gardai in Kerry orchestrating a campaign of political harassment against Sinn Fein members in the county.

‘‘Today’s arrest of Sinn Fein Ard Chomhairle member Martin Ferris is an outrageous politically motivated attack on Martin personally and Sinn Fein in general and he should be released immediately.

‘‘These arrests are an attack on the democratic rights of Sinn Fein and are a direct interference in the party’s preparations for the upcoming elections.

‘‘Clearly there are questions to be answered in terms of the timing and motivation of these arrests, particularly as they are occurring less than eight weeks out from an election.

‘‘I am making a direct appeal to the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to personally intervene to bring an end the campaign of political harassment which is being orchestrated by the Gardai in Kerry against Sinn Fein attempts to get Martin Ferris elected as TD for the area.’’

A spokesman for the gardai said: ‘‘As part of the ongoing investigation into allegations of false imprisonment a man was arrested in the Ardfert area of Co Kerry this morning.

‘‘He is presently detained at Killarney Garda Station under section four of the Criminal Justice Act.’’

He can be held for 12 hours before being charged, released or having his period of detention extended, the spokesman added.

Nobody has yet been charged in relation to the crime, but Mr Ferris is the eighth person to be questioned in recent weeks.

The others included five members of Sinn Fein, one of whom was Mr Ferris' own director of elections.

Mr Ferris has always denied any Sinn Fein involvement in the attack.