Courts / Kerry / Report
Unsuccesful Dail candidate too late to challenge election result
Summary
The High Court has ruled that Michelle Keane, an unsuccessful Independent Dáil candidate in Kerry, is out of time to challenge the November 2024 General Election result. Ms Keane, of Talbot Bridge, Knocknagoshel, claimed she witnessed ballots being torn from boxes at the Toureencahill polling station. She sought an order to release the marked register of electors and halt the destruction of election documents, naming the Clerk of the Dáil, the Irish Government, and Returning Officer Padraig Burke as respondents. Mr Justice Garrett Simons refused leave to present the election petition, noting that the 14-day limit under the Electoral Act 1992 had expired. The election was declared on November 30, 2024, but Ms Keane's application was not moved until March 7. The judge stated that Ms Keane was aware of her complaint on the night of the poll and that this was not a case of concealed fraud. He described her as "entirely unsuccessful" in the proceedings. Separately, last December, Ms Keane was jailed at Listowel Circuit Civil Court for refusing to comply with an injunction order prohibiting her from posting online about Listowel Garda Sergeant Melanie Walsh. She was released by Killarney Circuit Civil Court on December 13 after signing an undertaking to desist from such postings.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Unsuccesful Dail candidate too late to challenge election result. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 30, 2024 Incident
- March 7 Incident
- November 29, 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 28 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 13 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-03-11 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Outcome: Last December, Ms Keane was jailed at Listowel Circuit Civil Court for refusing to comply with an injunction order that she not post online about Listowel Garda Sergeant Melanie Walsh.
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