Fine Gael TD to seek court injunction against his own party

Daniel McConnell, Political Editor

Former Fine Gael junior minister John Perry is suing his own party in order to stop them from excluding him from the General Election ticket in the Sligo-Leitrim constituency.

Mr Perry, who failed to win the nomination at convention recently, confirmed this afternoon that he is to lodge an interlocutory injunction in the High Court tomorrow.

In a statement, Mr Perry said he is seeking to “restrain” Fine Gael from “taking any steps on foot of or in reliance upon the convention for the purpose of nominating candidates to stand for the next election in Sligo/Leitrim Constituency”.

He is also seeking an order “restraining the Executive Council from ratifying any candidate as a result of the convention and an Order restraining the defendant from taking any further steps to nominate candidates to stand for election in the constituency pending the hearing of the action”.

Mr Perry was demoted from the junior ministerial ranks in the 2014 reshuffle.

A long time ally of Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Mr Perry insists a promise was given to all sitting TDs that they would be allowed to defend their seats.