Challenger to those sitting pretty

FIANNA FÁIL election hopeful Des Kelly wasn’t exactly the most popular person in the party when his legal challenge threatened to upset their carefully stage-managed election campaign. But it didn’t bother him.

"I got some flack over it but not a lot," he said yesterday. "Bertie Ahern said he didn't agree with my points but respected my right to take the case. Given that I've five Supreme Court judges and one High Court judge agree with me, no one can say that I don't have right on my side."

Far from being a Fianna Fáil rebel, the 30-year-old electrical engineer says he's deeply committed to the party and was just standing up for his rights. But his determined stance against the privileges of sitting TDs isn't the first time he's clashed with the party establishment.