Dana ‘has no confidence in Sligo returning officer’

Independent MEP Rosemary ‘Dana’ Scallon has said she has no confidence in Sligo returning officer Ciaran McDermott after accusing him of shouting abuse at her yesterday.

The Connacht-Ulster MEP said she was making inquiries about registering for the upcoming European election when Mr McDermott became abusive with her.

She accused him of issuing an unprovoked threat to disqualify her from the election if her nomination papers were incorrectly filled in.

Mr McDermott was unavailable for comment last night.

In the meantime, Ms Scallon has asked Environment Minister Martin Cullen to investigate the matter.