| Description | The case was taken by Dr Stephen Myles MacSwiney in 1869 following his failure to be elected as a Fellow of the College, MacSwiney argued that the by-law of the College that insisted all elections be held by secret ballot, and the by-law that stated that one dissenting voice in five could prevent an election were illegal and invalid. MacSwiney won his case and the visitors ruled that the by-laws were illegal. For minutes of the Committee established to discuss the College's position in this case see RCPI/2/2/1/2. This case led to the College reviewing its system of elections for Presidents and Fellows, papers relating to this can be found in RCPI/5/4/4/4. |