Fine Gael draws first blood. . . with a poster

A Dublin man who was hit by a flying election poster has said he will seek legal redress for the injuries he sustained.

Mr Ray Costigan needed five stitches for a head wound after he was hit by the poster in Maynooth, Co Kildare, last Friday. The accident happened as he was walking into the train station, and the poster, belonging to Bernard Durkan of Fine Gael, was dislodged from a pole by high winds.

"I thought nothing of it at first, but then I saw I was streaming blood," said Mr Costigan. Iarnród Éireann workers helped him tend to the wound, and he later went to the Mater Hospital, where a plastic surgeon attended to his injuries.

Mr Durkan expressed his "upset" at the incident. He said his staff had tried "a dozen times" to contact the victim, but had been unable to trace him.

According to the TD, the poster was properly put up according to guidelines from Fine Gael headquarters. He was concerned that posters should not obstruct signs, and they were therefore placed high on poles; however, this meant they had further to fall.

Mr Costigan said he expected the party to cover the medical expenses.