Police refer election fraud probe to prosecutors

Police investigating fraud allegations over the nomination papers for a Sinn Féin council election candidate have sent a file to prosecutors.

It follows complaints about an electoral form for Gerard Magee, who stood for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council in the 2023 local government election.

Police interviewed three people and have sent a file to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) for consideration.

It is understood Mr Magee is not one of the three individuals referred to in the police file sent to the PPS.

Sinn Féin said it would be "inappropriate" to comment during an ongoing investigation.

Mr Magee was a candidate for the party last year in the Ballyclare area of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

He was not successful after receiving only 86 first-preference votes.

But during the election campaign, it emerged the council had received a number of complaints alleging "fraudulent subscription" in relation to his nomination papers.

The allegations were mentioned in parliament last year by Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Jim Shannon.

He told MPs that a man listed as one of the proposers of Mr Magee "was the victim of identity fraud".

"For clarity, the victim does not know Gerard Magee and did not sign his nomination papers," the Strangford MP said in the Commons.

The council sought advice from the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) launched an investigation.

Police submitted a file relating to three people to the PPS last month, BBC News NI understands.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: "Detectives made a number of enquiries following reports of fraudulent activity in relation to an electoral form in the Antrim and Newtownabbey area.

"Three people were interviewed as part of our enquiries and a file was subsequently sent to the Public Prosecution Service for direction."

The PPS confirmed it had "received a police investigation file relating to this case".

"The evidence will be considered by a prosecutor in accordance with the PPS Code for Prosecutors and a decision will be taken in due course," a spokesman added.

Sinn Féin and Mr Magee were approached for comment.

A party spokesperson said: "It would be inappropriate to make any comment which could prejudice the outcome of an ongoing investigation."

In a previous statement when the police investigation began last year, Sinn Féin said its nominations for the Ballyclare area "were submitted in full compliance with the Electoral Office rules".