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Aodhan O'Riordan via Twitter
# Poster Girl
Fianna Fáil candidate accused of "flouting regulations" as election posters go up four days early
Mary Fitzpatrick’s posters were erected near the Battle of Clontarf festival.
A FIANNA FÁIL candidate for next month’s European elections says that she will investigate how her election posters were erected four days early.
Polling rules say that election posters are allowed be placed on lampposts in the month running up to voting. With elections not due until the 23 May, Mary Fitzpatrick’s posters have been put up four days early.
This is in breach of Dublin City Council protocols and the Litter Pollution Act 1997, putting Fitzpatrick, who is a member of Dublin City Council, at risk of fines of over €100.
The posters were spotted around the Battle of Clontarf festival, which is expected to attract thousands of people to the north Dublin area this weekend.
Local TD Aodhan Ó’Ríordáin tweeted a picture of the posters, and told TheJournal.ie that Fitzpatrick was “flouting the regulations”.
“This flouting of the regulations goes to show what Fianna Fáil think of the regulations.
“Particularly as there is a massive community festival taking place here. It’s a poor show by somebody who should know better.”
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Under regulations, posters that are connected to public meetings can be posted, but election posters may not.
A spokesperson for Mary Fitzpatrick said that the issue came down to new volunteers.
“The Mary Fitzpatrick campaign is receiving new volunteers looking for ways to help every day. We will look into how this happened.”
Read: Labour Youth admit: Our posters break the law – but we’re prepared to pay the fine
