Connor to begin legal challenge over election result

Rodney Connor is challenging the election result

The Unionist Unity candidate, who lost out in the general election to Sinn Fein's Michelle Gildernew by four votes, will begin a legal challenge on Monday over the result.

Rodney Connor has asked the election court to review his narrow defeat in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

Michelle Gildernew was re-elected as MP for the constituency in May by four votes after three recounts.

The first count put Mr Connor ahead by eight votes.

Mr Connor is claiming there were breaches of the statutory rules and is seeking a scrutiny of the votes, a recount and a determination that Ms Gildernew was not duly elected.

The victorious Sinn Fein candidate insists, however, that she was properly returned last month by the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone as their MP.

Mr Connor claims to have two witnesses who saw six votes counted which should have been rejected.

But to the surprise of the Lord Chief Justice who will be hearing the case, the disputed ballot papers have not been found for the courts to scrutinise.

The case is due to begin in Dungannon later and is expected to last three days.

Ms Gildernew had to defend an election result in court before, when she first won the seat in 2001 with a majority of 53 votes.