Two Laois Sinn Féin election candidates complain about stolen posters
Portlaoise candidates Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley and Maria McCormack
Two Laois Sinn Féin local election candidates have raised alarm bells about their election posters going missing.
Sitting Portlaoise Municipal District Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley and new candidate Maria McCormack say that up to 40 posters between them have been removed and either thrown in ditches or disappeared.
Speaking to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, Cllr Dwane Stanley said: “I have never seen anything on this scale. Maria had 30 posters taken. I have had eight to 10 taken.
“It is totally illegal to interfere with election posters. It is breaking the law, it’s absolute vandalism. Everyone is entitled to the same playing field.
“A pallet where we had placed two posters of each of us was thrown in a drain. Another was taken pallet and all. It took two people to lift that in so it’s someone with a bigger vehicle who is taking them.
“We have a concern that they will reappear after the election and we will be open to being fined.
“We are asking the public to be vigilant, and get a photo or a registration number if they see this happening."
Maria McCormack claims that 30 of her posters have disappeared, one including the heavy pallet it was screwed to.
Ms McCormack posted a Facebook video.
"I expected on this journey that there may be a certain amount of posters vandalised or damaged or certain things getting drawn on them, and that's ok, this is the world we live in.
"I didn't expect that so many of my posters would just go missing. Quite a large number.
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"Even when they have been screwed to pallets, pallets and all have gone missing. I'm taking it as a compliment but I do find it a bit creepy.
"I am urging people to please be vigilant. If you see anyone tampering with posters, or for whatever strange reason someone would want to take 30 of your posters away, and do whatever with them, please tell somebody. It's not ok.
"And whoever has my posters, you're welcome," she said.
Cathaoirleach of Portlaoise MD, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that 10 of her posters were taken. Cllr Willie Aird said two of his had to be removed after they were defaced.
The local election takes place on Friday, June 7. Election posters can be in place from Wednesday 8th May 2024 until Friday 14th June 2024 (midnight).
Local authorities are responsible for the removal of posters if they constitute a hazard to either pedestrians or road users.