FF investigating fake endorsement letters

Fianna Fáil is investigating letters sent to between 2,000 and 3,000 voters in north Wexford before the local election poll purporting…

Fianna Fáil is investigating letters sent to between 2,000 and 3,000 voters in north Wexford before the local election poll purporting to be from the Taoiseach which endorsed one of two FF candidates.

The letters endorsed Mr Lorcan Allen, for first preferences over Mr Pat Rath, the other FF candidate in the Gorey ward for Wexford County Council. Mr Allen was also one of five FF candidates running for election to Gorey Town Council.

The letters were reportedly posted in Oireachtas envelopes and printed on Fianna Fáil-headed notepaper bearing a picture of the Taoiseach.

They urged the recipients to give Mr Allen a number one preference and to give Mr Rath a second preference. A spokeswoman for Fianna Fáil said the letters had been sent neither by the party nor by the Taoiseach's office.

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Mr Allen was elected on the ninth and final count for the Gorey ward of Wexford County Council. Mr Rath was unsuccessful.

A recount for the last seat on Dublin City Council continued at the RDS last night. Political and legal teams from the main parties spent their fifth day at the count centre where Labour's Ms Orla Farrell still trailed Fine Gael's Mr Naoise O'Muiri in tallies for the forth and final seat in Clontarf.