Kerry gardaí still await DPP directions five years after voter registration probe

A supporter of a candidate in the 2019 local elections claims bundles of voter forms were stamped by a garda, allegedly favouring another election candidate

A garda at a station in Kerry was alleged to have stamped voter register forms without the voters being present. File picture: Denis Minihane

The file on five-year old allegations about voter registration in Kerry is still with the DPP, the Garda Ombudsman has confirmed.

Gsoc launched the investigation into allegations centring on the supplementary register in Kerry after complaints in May 2019 shortly before the last local elections. A garda at a station in Kerry was alleged to have stamped voter register forms without the voters being present.

The investigation concluded last year and a file was sent to the DPP for directions.

Gsoc said that "the position is unchanged — the investigation is concluded, a file has been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and a direction by the DPP is awaited".

Former mayor of Killarney, Brendan Cronin, who had put down a motion on the issue two years ago said the delay is completely unacceptable.

"Five years later is a very long time. This dates to May 2019 and there is still no clarity and no finalization of it." 

The allegations centred on the Killarney area. It is claimed bundles of forms, possibly up to 200 additional voters or voters who were changing address, were stamped by a garda, allegedly favouring one Kerry local election candidate, without the voters seeking to be registered being present.

The complaint was made by the supporter of another candidate, it is understood.

Separately, discrepancies in the electoral register county wide in Kerry were highlighted last October at a meeting of Kerry County Council where it was alleged not only were people not living in the locality on the register, but those long dead were also on it.

The presentation on the Electoral Reform Act 2022 heard measures are in place now but cross-checking is still necessary. There were calls to bring back old-style enumerators.

Meanwhile, it is understood that large numbers of Ukrainians living in accommodation in Kerry have registered to vote in the local elections and have been encouraged to do so by party and independent candidates in the Kenmare and Killarney areas particularly.