Harassment of election workers

Paul Butler

Sinn Féin's Paul Butler has called for the Police Ombudsman to investigate the PSNI over harassment and intimidation of Sinn Féin's Lagan Valley election workers during the 2003 Assembly elections. He is also demanding that Dromore Leisure Centre should not be used as a count centre in any future election.

Paul Butler was speaking after a court hearing into claims of harassment and wrongful detention against a member of Sinn Féin's Lagan Valley election team during the 2003 Assembly elections was settled out of court. The PSNI agreed an out of court settlement and to pay the man financial compensation.

The court case, which was held in Banbridge on Monday, was taken by the Sinn Féin supporter after he was accused by the PSNI of being in a stolen vehicle which was leaving Dromore Leisure Centre at the end of the count of the 2003 Assembly elections. The PSNI later admitted that the car was not stolen.