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Injunction move against Helmshore election candidate
6:13pm Tuesday 6th May 2008
A DEFEATED election candidate may be banned from approaching council staff and visiting any of its premises because of "abusive" behaviour.
Rossendale Council has announced it is taking steps to obtain an injunction against Noel O'Brien, an independent candidate who failed to be elected in the Helmshore ward.
It follows an incident during the Rossendale elec-tion count on Friday, after which Mr O'Brien, 57, of Mercer Crescent, Haslingden, was escorted out of Bacup Leisure Hall by police.
The action came after he was said to have been "abusive".
In response, the former Haslingden councillor said he was exercising his "dem-ocratic right" at the count because he was "concerned about how the council was run".
Bosses said they hoped to bring the injunction request before a court within a fortnight, asking magist-rates to ban Mr O'Brien from approaching council staff, or visiting any of its workplaces.
Deputy chief executive Helen Lockwood said: "We have had to deal with a number of incidents over the last few months.
"His behaviour has been unacceptable.
"He's been abusive to people and we will take action to protect people.
"This won't be a surprise to him."
Ms Lockwood praised the police for their swift intervention during the elections, and said the council was taking the issue very seriously.
When asked about the incident at the count, Mr O'Brien said it was "unfort-unate".
He said: "The council won't deal with me in person.
"It all has to go through the chief exec and, as a tax payer, I am just exercising my democratic right because I have concerns about the council and how it is run. I'm just as keen to press action against the council.
"If I'm not able to present myself in the council offices, then that is a blatant attack on my human rights.
"She can do what she wants with her legal department because I am taking legal advice myself.
"They can injunct as much as they want. I won't change my views."
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ESCORTED OUT: Defeated independent candidate Noel O'Brien leaves the election count
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