Preservation of ballots sought in ICA election row

A MEMBER of the Irish Country Women’s Association (ICA) is seeking a High Court injunction preventing the organisation from destroying ballot papers for its elections for executive positions, including national president.

The action has been brought by Patricia Madden, a barrister of Saint Mobhi Road in Glasnevin, Dublin 9.

A lawyer for the ICA gave an undertaking to the court not to destroy the ballots.

Ms Madden seeks an injunction restraining the destruction or interference of ballot papers for the 2018 national elections for president, secretary, treasurer and regional presidential positions.

Ms Madden said in a statement the action had been brought due to her and other members’ concerns about the elections over alleged breaches of the ICA’s constitution over the last number of months. Votes for the various positions were submitted by post, with a closing date of April 27 last.

The ballot papers, she said, had not been counted and a declaration had not been made as to the names of the successful candidates, which she claims is in breach of the ICA’s constitution. The results should have been announced before its AGM, which was held in Athlone on May 26 last.

She brought the action because it had been “intimated to her” by the ICA’s procedures committee chair that the ballot papers would be destroyed at the first available opportunity.

The votes are being held at a post office box in Ballsbridge and at the ICA HQ in Dublin.

The matter was adjourned to later this month.