THE DUP has reported "false material" about South Down candidate Diane Forsythe to police.
The party's director of elections, Gordon Lyons, said Ms Forsythe had been the victim of "a libellous and malicious campaign to damage her good name and an attempt to bully a young female candidate as she attempts to put herself forward for public service".
Ms Forsythe (38), a trained accountant from Kilkeel, was chosen to stand in the constituency earlier this year ahead of former Lagan Valley MLA Edwin Poots.
Mr Lyons did not state who had shared the material, only blaming "political opponents". But he said none of his party's candidates would be deterred by "faceless trolls".
"The latest misogynistic material which has been circulated is not only false but outrageously offensive," he said.
"This vile material is motivated by an inherent misogynistic prejudice and designed to undermine Diane’s character.
"It is shameful that political opponents, unable to rival Diane’s intellect or political arguments, would stoop to this level."
He called on all South Down candidates to "issue a clear statement of condemnation of this outrageous and sustained attack on Diane's character".
"None of our candidates will be intimated or meekly stand by whilst their character is attacked by faceless trolls," he said.
"The matter has been reported to the police but separate legal action will be taken against anyone sharing the material."
Ms Forsythe previously stood for South Down in the 2017 Westminster election, obtaining the largest-ever vote for the DUP in the constituency.
However, she quit the party along with her father, councillor Glyn Hanna, last year over concerns about bullying and sexism following the ousting of Arlene Foster as leader.
Ms Forsythe said she had faced "disrespectful attitudes" within the DUP including "shameful sexism, ageism and the underlying tone of bullying".
She later returned to the party along with her father and another DUP councillor, Katherine Owen, after Sir Jeffrey Donaldson took over as leader.
Former DUP South Down MLA Jim Wells resigned from the party last month in protest at the DUP's decision to select Ms Forsythe as a candidate.
Mr Wells has now endorsed the TUV candidate Harry McKee.
