Counterfeit cash

WHILE the annals will record 2016 as the General Election year, in Kerry it will be remembered more for the Listowel Municipal District’s ‘count afresh’ which took place just two weeks prior to the main elections; the sort of General Election prelude never before witnessed and in all likelihood, never will be again.

Years from now, students of politics, law, and history will reference and decipher the seismic circumstances that led to Dan Kiely taking his request for a recount of 14,929 ballots in the seven-seat Listowel area to the Supreme Court – having lost by just two votes to Cllr Mike Kennelly in the 2014 Local Elections for the last seat.

In early January, Judge Tom O’Donnell, at Tralee Circuit Court, gave the go-head for the recount after Kiely’s Supreme Court appeal in 2015 was successful.

The decision paved the way for what would be the first recount of its kind in the history of the state and the nation’s media set their antennas on the John Mitchel’s Sports Centre on February 11 to cover proceedings. From early morning Dan Kiely gave interviews to RTE, while Cllr Kennelly remained tight-lipped until it was all over. Cllr Jimmy Moloney was also dragged into the recount by virtue of the fact just five votes separated him, Cllr Kennelly and Dan Kiely for the final seat.

Day passed into night and by close of play on day one 32 ballot papers were disputed. This led to a period of stagnation as agents for each candidate deliberated over the ballots – a stalemate that finished up before Limerick Circuit Court early the next morning for a resolution. Counting resumed and eleven counts later - that lasted well past midnight – a final picture emerged. In the finish, few predicted Dan Kiely would end up a further two votes down on the 2014 result, while Cllr Kennelly finished better off than 2014, jumping ahead of Jimmy Maloney to take the sixth seat - such are the vagaries of politics.

Once the final decision became apparent, close to 1am, the Returning Officer, Charlie O’Sullivan, discreetly emerged from behind the sorting counter to whisper the outcome in Dan’s ear. The result was accepted and candidates shook hands.

The celebrations that followed were low-key having been stifled by the overriding sense of relief etched on the faces of councillors’ Kennelly and Moloney. Dan Kiely absorbed the defeat using all his experience in politics and spoke to The Kerryman about what had just occurred.

“I’ve very loyal people and supporters down through the years. I’m in politics since 1979 when I was first elected and the people that were with me then are still with me. They follow me all the way and I’m dead proud of them. I’m not finished yet and I have no shortage of energy. I’ll take a break now for a week or two and we’ll see after that,” Dan said.

Cllr Kennelly had by now abandoned his embargo on speaking to the media and the final result released him from the stress as he spoke of relief and justification.

“I know I didn’t speak yesterday but you have no idea of how relieved we are and you could see that expression on my face when the result was called out. Look, I didn’t sign up for this. I signed up to represent the people of North Kerry and I won that election. This is something that has been outside of my control and it has been a stressful avenue since it raised its head.”

Lastly, Cllr Jimmy Moloney emerged from the scrum of Fianna Fáil supporters that besieged him to have his say.

“It’s been a long 48 hours and we were in Limerick Court House at 8am this morning. You always fear these things could go either way in such circumstances. We knew it was going to be tight and I’m just glad I came out the right side of it,” he said.

“I’d just like to praise all the candidates who put their names on that ballot and it proves it here tonight that it takes guts to do such a thing. There has to be clarity brought now for future elections and the guidelines need to be clarified. Perhaps something like a voter education should be brought in for schools,” said Jimmy.

And with that, one of the most historic election sideshows ever witnessed ended with an empty hall and a sense that what had just occurred would have ramifications for election counts all over Ireland in the future. COUNTERFEIT Christmas cash scams reach a new level as it emerges criminal gangs are selling bags of €2,000-worth of fake €50 and €20 notes for €200 a pop on the black market in Kerry. News of the elaborate scam and circulating counterfeit cash comes amid warnings from Gardaí for the public to exercise greater caution.