Charges against Sinn Fein politician dismissed

Former senior IRA figure Martin Ferris, now a Sinn Fein representative in the Dail, had a courtroom charge against him under the public order act dismissed today because of lack of proof.

Mr Ferris, member for the Kerry North constituency, was accused at the District Court in Tralee, Co Kerry, of engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour near Knocknagoshel, also Co Kerry, in April.

Garda Sergeant Stephen Flaherty told the court that Ferris lunged towards him and told him he would regret having pulled over a car driven by James Sheehan, Mr Ferris’s campaign director in May’s General Election.

District Judge Leo Malone said he was not satisfied that the case had been proven and he dismissed the charge.

He also dismissed three charges of dangerous driving against Mr Sheehan.

In March, 1997 Mr Ferris successfully appealed against a three-month prison sentence imposed in Tralee District Court for abusive language and provoking a breach of the peace two years earlier, while being interviewed by police outside his home.

After today’s proceedings, Mr Ferris, who had denied the charges, claimed there was a campaign of political harassment against him and his party.

He said: ‘‘I hope that it all stops and allows me and Sinn Fein to get on with the work we have been elected to do by the people of North Kerry.’’