Ulster Unionists seeking to oust Sinn Fein MP Ms Michelle Gildernew over alleged polling station intimidation will today discover the outcome of their legal fight.
Reserved judgment is due at Belfast High Court on the action launched by Mr James Cooper following his narrow defeat in the Fermanagh/South Tyrone Westminster election.
Ms Gildernew took the seat by 53 votes, but Mr Cooper, the UUP chairman, claimed republicans used threats to ensure votes were cast after the official polling-office closing time.
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 deadline. One official said coming up to 10 p.m. there was a stand-off in the room and the presiding officer Mr John McGovern decided to "give them an extra 10 minutes".
He reckoned that between 15-20 ballot papers were issued after the deadline. Another clerk estimated that ballot papers were distributed during a 7-8 minute period when about 15-16 people voted.
PA