Mr O'Hare's poster was still up on Saturday. The former councillor said it was an oversight that he went to remove himself.

Former councillor had poster up two months after election

A former councillor will not be fined for still having a poster up over two months after the local election.
Bailieborough’s John O’Hare lost his seat in the May 23 elections, after which the Department of Environment allowed seven days to take down posters.
An eagle-eyed member of the public spotted the poster “opposite the piggery at Tullyinchin, Mountain Lodge, Cootehill” and emailed the Celt with the handle 'Laragh Resident’. The file date on when the photo was taken was Saturday, July 26 - over two months after the election.
“I am very disappointed to see this up as the election was at the end of May, and this poster shows if nothing else the candidates complete disrespect for the environment. These posters are very harmful to the environment and it is very disappointing to see them left there and not being recycled or disposed respectfully,” the emailer said.
Mr O’Hare said it was a “genuine oversight” and that when he was notified of the poster on Monday, July 28, he went to remove it himself only to find it had already been taken down by the council.
The fine for the offence on the first day of ban on election material was €150.
The Anglo-Celt contacted the Department for the Environment to see if the fine increased as the amount of time passed but received no response at the time of going to print.
A spokesperson for Cavan County Council, however, said the former councillor would not be fined:
“[The] Council have spoken with the former councillor and it was his understanding that all posters were taken down – this poster was an oversight and in the circumstance the council do not consider it appropriate to issue a fine.”