SF ballot paper clash Sinn Féin Dublin European Parliament candidate Ms Mary Lou McDonald's decision to describe herself as a "peace negotiator' and "full-time public representative" will not be challenged by the constituency's returning officer, Dublin City Sheriff Mr John Fitzpatrick.
Fellow Dublin Euro candidate Fianna Fáil TD Mr Eoin Ryan's election team has complained to the returning officer's staff about Ms McDonald's conduct, though no formal legal complaint has as yet been received, according to Mr Fitzpatrick last night.
However, Mr Ryan said his solicitor, Mr Aidan Eames, has written to seek "confirmation of the accuracy of the description" to be given by Ms McDonald in the ballot paper to be used in the June 11th election.
Mr Ryan said: "I am not aware of any position to which Ms McDonald has been elected by the public. Her claim to be 'a peace negotiator' requires clarification. What peace has she negotiated and with whom?
"If she can describe herself as a peace negotiator, then so is every member of Oireachtas Éireann.
"The Sinn Féin candidate's claim to have been elected by the people to any office is utterly bogus," said the Dublin South East TD.
Last night, the returning officer, Mr Fitzpatrick, said no formal rules were in place to decide what titles could be used by candidates, other than people claiming to represent parties that did not in fact exist: "It is a judgment call that has to be made by me when the issue arises," he told The Irish Times.
He said he had previously accepted Ms McDonald's self-awarded descriptions during the last general election in Dublin West: "I did not challenge them then," he commented.
A verbal complaint was made to his office by a senior Fianna Fáil official, Mr Seán Sherwin, last Wednesday, he said: "I have not heard any more since from them."
