Option of adding John Perry to Sligo-Leitrim ticket ‘still in play’

Fine Gael general secretary Tom Curran has told the High Court the option of adding Deputy John Perry as a third candidate for the general election in Sligo-Leitrim is "still in play".

In his evidence on the fifth day of Mr Perry’s action seeking that a new selection convention to be held, Mr Curran said that with Fine Gael standing at up to 32 per cent in the polls, it is “possible for the party to look again at this”.

In his action against Fine Gael, Mr Perry says the convention result of last October should be set aside because of serious irregularities in how it was run.

Mr Curran said that at the time of the convention the party was at 28 per cent in the polls, but it was normal practice to look at this again and as a result of research decide to add candidates based on national polls.

‘Justify everybody’s desires’

Regardless of the outcome of this case, he personally would recommend to the party’s executive council to look at it and see “can we justify everybody’s desires at the same time as protecting the need to win two seats by having a third candidate”.

Mr Justice Paul Gilligan remarked that, since the case began last week, Mr Curran had had every opportunity to consider such an approach or could have invited Mr Perry to make a complaint directly to the executive council which would make such a decision.

The judge commented it was still possible Mr Perry would be added to the ticket because all the candidates had not been ratified yet.

Earlier, Mr Curran said, at a meeting to discuss electoral strategy with Mr Perry last June, Mr Perry was asked what would happen if he was not selected at convention, and he had replied: “John Perry goes Independent”.

Re-evaluating rules

Whatever the outcome of this case, the party would be re-evaluating its rules so candidates cannot “opt out” of supporting the volunteers who work on the night of selection conventions, Mr Curran said.

In relation to an incident in which Mr Perry alleged Mr Curran accused Mr Perry of canvassing in a voting area, Mr Curran said he had not approached him in a aggressive manner but Mr Perry had told him to: “F*** off”.

In relation to Mr Perry’s complaint that a sister of one of the winning candidates had been seen putting ballot papers into the box, Mr Curran said he had investigated this and was satisfied she was doing it at the request of three elderly voters who had been queueing for half an hour and were tired.

He said a letter he wrote a week after the convention to returning officer Darragh Kelly, which was only presented to the court on Monday, was written because he wanted to put on file some of his unhappiness about some of the things that happened on the night.

‘Chaotic organisation’

In the letter, Mr Curran referred to “chaotic organisation”, including there not being enough voting tables and voting lists being left on tables.

He said he was unhappy with these and other matters and had outlined them, making “no apologies, regardless whose side it helps”.

There were very few conventions where mistakes are not made, but his overall view was the convention was not fundamentally flawed or corrupt.

Mr Curran will be cross-examined on Tuesday.