FG legal advisers study allegations of Perry witness interference

Legal advisers for Fine Gael are examining allegations by former TD John Perry about alleged interference with a witness in a case taken against the party.

Mr Perry has received correspondence from the party's trustees confirming receipt of his letter to Fine Gael general secretary Tom Curran.

The former TD has claimed a witness in a High Court challenge he took against Fine Gael was pressurised to not give evidence.

The party’s trustees considered the matter at a meeting on Tuesday night, after which they said they can make no further comment. However, the correspondence confirmed their legal advisers are considering the claims.

At the meeting of trustees it is understood a number of the members stressed they were not aware of such a situation and wanted that fact to be placed on the record.

The individual in question is expected to make a public statement in the coming days to detail the allegations he has made.

Mr Perry took the case against Fine Gael over its handling of a selection convention in the constituency where he failed to win a nomination.

He was later added to the ticket after successfully challenging the case.

Mr Perry and the witness have now both written to Fine Gael outlining their concerns over the party’s actions.

A Fine Gael spokeswoman said the party would be making no comment on the allegations. “This case has been before the courts and has now been concluded. As such, we have no further comment to make on the matter.”

It is understood Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Mr Curan have been kept informed of the developments in the case.

Meanwhile, a report into Fine Gael’s general election performance has made a number of recommendations.

It is understood it proposes a liaison officer be appointed to deal directly with the party’s backbench TDs.

It also calls for TDs to have more of a role in announcements made by Government Ministers.

One of the recommendations is to dismantle the “stage-managed” Ard Fheis to give members a bigger say in the running of the party.

A number of TDs, including Longford-Westmeath's Peter Burke, Dublin Bay South TD Kate O'Connell, Dún Laoghaire TD Maria Bailey and Dublin Fingal TD Alan Farrell, held a lengthy meeting with Mr Kenny this week to discuss the findings.

It is understood the report was issued to Mr Kenny over recent days and he sought a meeting to address some of the points raised.