Republican News · Thursday 2 May 2002

Ferris poll boost

Bookies in Tralee are refusing to take any more bets on Martin Ferris after a poll in The Kerryman on Wednesday morning indicated that the Sinn Féin candidate is set to top the poll on 17 May.

The poll in the three-seat constituency shows Ferris on 30.4%, followed by Labour's Dick Spring on 24.1%, and Fine Gael's Jimmy Deenihan on 21%, with Fianna Fáil's Tom McEllistrom and Dan Kiely trailing badly, on 13.3% and 8.4%, respectively.

Ferris, who in recent months has had to endure a sustained barrage of political attack and hostile media coverage, culminating in being arrested and assaulted by gardaí, welcomed the poll but warned supporters not to get carried away.

"These results are not a great surprise to us in North Kerry because they reflect the response we've been encountering on the doorsteps," he told An Phoblacht. "But the opinion poll that matters is the one that takes place on election day. We will continue to campaign with the same motivation and determination right up to 17 May. I am confident that the people of Kerry North will elect a Sinn Féin TD and that the same level of support will be reflected for our candidates across the 26 Counties."

Ferris also spoke of the "desperate attempt by a small number of gardaí to prevent me being elected. It hasn't worked and it won't work. The response indicated in this poll shows that the people of North Kerry have seen through this."