Sinn Fein 'poll threat': decision today
Ulster Unionists seeking to oust a Sinn Fein MP over alleged polling station intimidation were today hearing if they have won their legal fight.
Reserved judgment was due at Belfast High Court on the action launched by James Cooper following his narrow defeat in the Fermanagh and South Tyrone Westminster contest.
Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew took the seat by 53 votes, but Mr Cooper, the UUP chairman, claimed republicans used threats to ensure votes were cast after closing time at the last General Election.
He insisted if the invalid votes cast at Garrison, Co Fermanagh, were disallowed, he would have had a majority.
In his High Court petition, he asked Lord Chief Justice Sir Robert Carswell and Lord Justice McCollum to declare the result invalid and order a by-election.
But Ms Gildernew has dismissed the action as ‘‘sour grapes’’ on Mr Cooper’s part.
At a two-day hearing last month, polling clerks said up to 20 extra votes were cast after the 10pm deadline.
One official said coming up to 10pm there was a stand-off in the room and the presiding officer John McGovern decided to ‘‘give them an extra 10 minutes’’.
He reckoned that between 15-20 ballot papers were issued after the deadline.
Another estimated that ballot papers were distributed during a 7-8 minute period when about 15-16 people voted.
