Galway County Registrar Marian Chambers Higgins has drafted a letter to Independent Newspapers demanding an explanation as to why bundles of Irish Independent newspapers, with a front page pro Lisbon editorial, were dropped at various polling booths across Galway City on the day of the Lisbon Referendum, last Thursday.

Complimentary copies of the Irish Independent with a front page editorial titled 'Why we need to vote 'Yes', were delivered to the polling stations at Westside, Knocknacarra, Claddagh, Dr Mannix Road. Séamus Quirke Road and Bushy Park on Thursday morning.

The presence of the papers at the Galway polling stations blatantly violates electoral legislation, which prohibits the display of any literature that could be seen to influence voters' minds, within a 50-metre radius of the polling station.

According to Ms Chambers Higgins, the papers were delivered to the locations by couriers working for Independent Newspapers. The situation was brought to her attention early on Thursday by the respective presiding officers.

"I have spoken to Independent Newspapers who have given me their excuse, but I've told them I want it writing," the County Registrar explained. "They (Independent Newspapers) said that they do promotions at this time of year, whereby they drop complimentary papers off at schools, in the hope that children will take them home to the parents and they will then remember to buy it."

Comments (0) »

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment