Labour candidate:An Post has launched an investigation into how a postal worker breached strict mail delivery guidelines by stapling a general election candidate's material to polling cards in the five-seat Wicklow constituency last week.
An Post last night apologised to Labour candidate, Cllr Nicky Kelly, saying one postal worker was responsible for the error.
Fully-paid election material for Cllr Kelly, which was contained in brown envelopes, were stapled by a postal worker to polling cards for delivery last week and dropped through letter boxes in the Rosehill/ Hollygrove /St Patrick's Avenue area of Wicklow town.
Mr Kelly had paid almost €6,000 to An Post for the service.
An Post discovered the error last Friday when residents complained that the Labour document had arrived stapled to their polling cards.
A spokeswoman said there was nothing sinister in what happened and explained that a postman, trying to speed up his deliveries, was responsible.
Cllr Kelly said yesterday he sent about 11,000 election letters to householders seeking support for his campaign as polling day draws closer. He said he has received complaints and that he has been getting the blame for the error.
"People have been saying that this makes it look like we're claiming to have the advantage. Our whole campaign has been undermined by An Post and this is up to the management to find out what happened."
Regional manager John Brady apologised unreservedly on behalf of An Post to Cllr Nicky Kelly and to the customers affected.
"A full investigation is being carried out into the incident. This should not have happened and we have taken steps to ensure that it does not happen again."