GAA scions face battle Royal for votes

Michael O’Farrell and Fionnán Sheahan

Following the withdrawal of Fianna Fáil’s selected candidate, Councillor Tommy Reilly, over a controversial property deal, Fianna Fáil last night moved quickly to select a substitute by interviewing prospective candidates.

The favourite to get the nod from FF headquarters was Navan-based Cllr Shane Cassells, a nephew of legendary All-Ireland winning footballer Joe Cassells and former union chief Peter Cassells, who stood for the Labour Party in last year’s European election. His father Oliver played hurling for Meath.

Although still facing competition from another young candidate, Dominic Moran from Kells, if selected, Mr Cassells will line up against Fine Gael’s candidate, Shane McEntee, a brother of another Meath All-Ireland winner, Gerry McEntee.

Mr Reilly was forced to stand down by Fianna Fáil headquarters because of his involvement in a land deal with disgraced former Government press secretary Frank Dunlop.

The chairman of Meath County Council, Mr Reilly, withdraw his candidacy yesterday, saying he and his family had been the victim of a media witch-hunt.

“It’s not politicians or any political party that’s behind this. I want to make that quite clear,” he said.

However, Fianna Fáil sources indicated Mr Reilly had been subjected to considerable informal pressure to stand down, ever since revelations emerged that he had purchased land at Eddoxtown, Co Meath, with Mr Dunlop in 1997.

Mr Dunlop, who has admitted bribing politicians at the Mahon Tribunal, purchased the land with Mr Reilly using a firm owned by an offshore company.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing in relation to the Eddoxtown transaction.

Fianna Fáil said the party had “noted the decision” and would now move “swiftly ahead to select a candidate to contest the election”.

It is understood Fianna Fáil’s ongoing investigation into the land deal will continue.