A Sinn Fein candidate became the first person in the State to be charged under the Electoral Act of 1997. Mr John McCann, of Glenfield Park, Clondalkin, appeared in Kilmainham District Court on charges of failing to make a proper return of the contributors to his election campaign by the August 2nd deadline.
He had been arrested and charged by Insp Michael Fitzpatrick of Ronanstown Garda station. Mr McCann stood for Sinn Fein in Dublin West in the last election.
The charges arose from a complaint by the Electoral Commission that he had failed to make a proper return. He was remanded on his own bail to March 5th.