A Kerry man escaped conviction for election fraud after voting in local elections with a polling card registered to another person. Gardaí did not investigate who provided the polling card or prompted his vote. The card had been found amongst others that were missing from a vehicle. Fine Gael Senator Mike Kennelly expressed concern and called for a thorough investigation into the incident, emphasizing the need for clarity regarding the issuance of the polling card and the implications for democracy.
We had voter impersonation at Kenmare polling station... A Caherciveen man pleaded guilty but avoided a conviction for electoral fraud after he used a polling card, not in his name, that went missing from a vehicle.
It is even more extraordinary to learn... that the defendant works for the Healy-Rae Plant Hire company... his employer... was unusually not identified, even though he has worked for them for years.
I called for a thorough investigation into the facts of the incident last week and we still need clarity about how this was quietly hushed up. It has made a mockery of our democracy.
There have been no answers as to how this man got the polling card before he drove 40 miles from his home to vote in another town. He did not acquire it himself, the court was told.
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