Micheál Martin faced trouble closer to home as a Fianna Fáil member of Cork City Council said his claim of support for Averil Power’s 2011 Seanad campaign disputed his previous version of events.

Three members of a well- known Cork political family — one of whom is currently serving a jail sentence — were among 126 mortgage holders against whom lenders sought repossession orders at a sometimes noisy Limerick County Registrar’s court yesterday.

Former solicitor, financial adviser, and Fianna Fáil councillor Gary O’Flynn was yesterday jailed for three years for soliciting someone to murder a detective, a taxman, and an accountant because of a fraud inquiry against him.

Even in death, Jackie Healy-Rae looked like a man on the campaign trail.

Financial adviser Gary O’Flynn was jailed for three years — with the last two years suspended on his undertaking never to apply for a certificate to act as a solicitor.

Cork solicitor and financial adviser Gary O’Flynn has apologised for any pain he caused by stealing over €6,000 from a man who turned to him for help in dealing with serious debts.

Planners have issued a warning letter to the owner and developer of a Muslim information centre at the centre of a planning row in the historic core of Cork City.

Ex-ministers and TDs who “abandoned” Fianna Fáil in the last election and chose not to contest seats, will not be allowed to run again under a motion passed at the ard fheis.

A former politician has been refused bail after he appeared in court accused of attempting to hire someone to murder a detective, an accountant and a tax official.

Former Fianna Fáil TD Noel O’Flynn did not get a summons to appear in court for a civil hearing over payment of a €1,000 bill for election flyers because it was served on the wrong address and he was on holiday in Mexico, it was claimed yesterday.

A former Fianna Fáil councillor — described by a retired garda as “the most arrogant man I ever encountered” — was convicted of being drunk and a danger; being threatening, abusive or insulting; and carrying a knife.

A former Fianna Fáil councillor — described by a retired garda as “the most arrogant man I ever encountered” — was yesterday convicted of being drunk and a danger, being threatening, abusive, or insulting, and carrying a knife.

Former Fianna Fáil TD Noel O’Flynn has been summonsed to appear before Cork District Court for non-payment of a €1,000 debt to a local community newspaper.

AS Micheál Martin prepares this weekend for his first ard fheis as Fianna Fáil leader, the atmosphere has been soured as ghosts of the party’s shambolic past resurrect themselves to rattle their chains and pour scorn on his performance.

Fianna Fáil is going nowhere with Micheál Martin as leader, a disgruntled former party TD has said.

FIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin defended his running of the party as he turned fire on Bertie Ahern.

FIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin has named former finance minister Brian Lenihan as his deputy in a move that could make it harder for the party to disassociate itself from previous failures.

FIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin’s attempts to control the party’s Seanad candidates has been rebuffed by members.

THERE were four seats for the taking in Cork North Central but the big winner was certainly Jonathan O’Brien, the Sinn Féin city councillor who after three hard-fought but unsuccessful general election campaigns finally got a Dáil seat for the party in Cork city.

LABOUR look set to be the big winner in Cork North Central with the change of boundaries in the constituency as the party increases its share of the vote from 12% in 2007 to 33% in this poll.

PERSEVERANCE pays off. When Sinn Féin’s Jonathan O Brien started out in politics, working under the tutelage of veteran party councillor and activist Don O’Leary, he was regarded as something a callow youth.

THE Socialist Party could take the Dáil seat of former junior minister, Billy Kelleher, after a poll showed a collapse of Fianna Fáil support in Cork North Central.

IT’S a wet and miserable night and the wind is whipping around Kinvara in Dublin Hill, Cork, as Sinn Féin general election candidate Jonathan O’Brien and his team of about 10 canvassers trek around the sprawling estate knocking on doors and depositing leaflets.

THE unexpected retirement of two of Cork North Central’s political heavyweights has added a frisson of sorts to the campaigns of those seeking a seat in the 31st Dáil.

FIANNA FÁIL TD Billy Kelleher looks on track to win a seat in Cork North Central, according to an internal Fine Gael poll.

ELECTIONS campaigns can blissfully spin in their own space as if happening on another planet.

The new Fianna Fáil frontbench

OUTSPOKEN Fianna Fáil TD Noel O’Flynn has ruled out standing for election as an independent candidate or running for the Seanad.

RETIRING Fianna Fáil TD Noel O’Flynn has called on other party colleagues to “make sacrifices” and step aside or move constituency rather than damage running mates’ chances in the election.

MICHEÁL MARTIN remains the front-runner to be the next Fianna Fáil leader, with the number of TDs publicly declaring they will support him in tomorrow’s vote now in excess of 20.

MICHEÁL MARTIN was first out of the blocks after the Fianna Fáil leadership became vacant — announcing his candidacy for the position and then watching as a steady stream of TDs declared support for him.

LAST night’s Fianna Fáil meeting ended with a call of unity from Micheál Martin who told his supporters to unite behind Taoiseach Brian Cowen, following his side’s victory by a significant margin in a vote of confidence in his leadership.

MICHEÁL MARTIN said remaining in office after the rebellion against his party leader was incompatible with his public criticism of Brian Cowen.

VETERAN Fine Gael TD Bernard Allen confirmed last night that he will not contest the general election.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen is on the cusp of defeating the Fianna Fáil rebellion after backbenchers lined up to show loyalty to their leader.

MICHEÁL MARTIN is seeking to use strong support from the Cork constituencies as the head of the wedge he hopes will topple Taoiseach Brian Cowen as leader of Fianna Fáil.

Brian Cowen has said he is confident he would survive his own motion of confidence in his leadership.

IMPERVIOUS to polls and pundits Taoiseach Brian Cowen is determined to stagger into the General Election as leader of his party.

A NUMBER of senior figures within Fianna Fáil last night came out in support of Taoiseach Brian Cowen, insisting he will win the confidence vote comprehensively.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan has said that Taoiseach Brian Cowen will make an announcement on his future as leader of Fianna Fáil later this evening.