SINN FEIN has denied allegations by the SDLP MP, Dr Joe Hendron, that republicans engaged in widespread personation in his West Belfast constituency.
Dr Hendron, who ousted the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, from his West Belfast seat in the 1992 Westminster election, personally complained to the chief electoral officer, Mr Pat Bradley.
People in Northern Ireland must produce specified personal documentation before being issued with ballot papers. Dr Hendron said that Sinn Fein activists were using forged medical cards as false proof of identification in order to boost their vote.
"It's happening all over the constituency", Dr Hendron said. "These medical cards are of absolutely no use. They are easily forged and they must be withdrawn as a means of identification in future elections," he added.
The RUC press office last night said it had no reports of personation. Mr Bradley said that if Dr Hendron could provide concrete details of personation he would have the matter further investigated.
The SDLP claimed that in one alleged instance a republican carrying a forged medical card was stopped by an electoral officer after it was discovered the card was in the name of the official's son.
It was also reported that a car owned by the Belfast SDLP councillor, Mr Alex Attwood, was stoned after he challenged Sinn Fein supporters who allegedly tried to vote with false cards.
Documentation such as passports, driving licences, and medical cards are accepted as proof of identification. Mr Bradley agreed that medical cards were less secure than other documents but to remove them as proof of identification might disenfranchise a large section of the population which did not travel abroad, or did not own cars.
Sinn Fein denied the allegations. "It's absolutely and categorically untrue. Joe Hendron should put up or shut up. If he has the evidence he should produce it," a party spokesman said.
