A Fine Gael TD has appeared before the High Court as part of his attempt to stop the party from ratifying election candidates in his constituency.

Former Junior Minister John Perry failed to get on the ticket for Sligo-Leitrim at the selection convention last month.

He now plans to apply for a temporary injunction while he tries to have the result overturned.

The court has allowed him serve papers on his party at short notice.

He is due back before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan next month.

Mr Perry narrowly missed out on getting his name on the ticket, and claims some members were prevented from voting for him.

He has been a TD for almost two decades and fully intended to contest the next general election for Fine Gael - but last month he lost out at the selection convention by just 10 votes.

Fellow Deputy Tony McLoughlin and former TD Gerry Reynolds got the nod on the night; and despite his best attempts since, Deputy Perry has not been added to the ticket.

He believes some Fine Gael members were unfairly barred from voting for him and has accused the Taoiseach Enda Kenny of breaking a promise that all outgoing TDs would be given the chance to try and win back their seats.